Trust the big picture

A mom told me this story about her daughter-in-law -- whom she dearly loves and admires.

Jill was grateful to find a job in her field at the local arboretum.  It was only part-time, but she worked hard, attended to details, made solid contributions, and looked for full-time openings within the organization. 

A great opportunity came along to be assistant to her boss, and Jill applied.  She was devastated when another less qualified person was selected.

What to do?  Was all her hard work for nothing?  Was she not appreciated?  She decided not to go the route of self-pity or hurt feelings.  After considerable prayer she felt it was right to continue expressing helpfulness, willingness, and co-operation and stay in her part-time job.

Unknown to Jill, a grant had been applied for.  When it came through a short time later, the funds allowed her boss to create a full-time position especially suited to Jill’s talents.  Jill was one happy woman!

Usually we can’t see the big picture.  We don’t know where we fit.  The small parts we see sometimes don’t make sense or seem fair.  It’s good to remember that God knows the big picture, She knows where we fit.  Our job is to listen for direction and to do our best.

For somebody else the direction might have been not to stay.  That's where the listening comes in.   It's always fun when the pieces come together in a way that  confirms a decision as a good one.

Children's program at the arboretum

Knowing what is ours to do

View of the Promised Land

from Mount Nebo, Jordan

Theories differ as to why Moses didn’t cross over into the Promised Land with his people. He had been guiding thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of grumblers and complainers for 40 years.

They complained about lack of water, and God gave them water. They complained about not having food, and God gave them food. They complained about Moses' leadership, and God strengthened Moses’ ability to lead. For forty years.

Some theorize Moses was being punished for his temper – like when he threw down the tablets with the Commandments on them. He was angry at how quickly the people had reverted to the pagan practices of their slavery days.

Others feel Moses had completed his job. There was simply no need for him to travel any further. His contract with this group was over.

I think it was God putting a reassuring arm around Moses' shouder and saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Here, take a look at where your people are going. And you, Moses, got them here. You guided and nurtured and encouraged them till they grew in readiness – prepared mentally, spiritually, and physically – to go forward under Joshua’s leadership. You have done a great job. I know it wasn’t easy most of the time. But here are the results.”

Traveling with the Carroll - Fischer Holy Land trip, we stopped at Mt. Nebo in Jordan, from which Moses is believed to have viewed the Promised Land. It presents quite a view in all directions.

I had always imagined their trek was mostly flat – through land like the desert in Arizona. Not so. Those escapees had a lot of ups and downs, mountains and sand dunes, to traverse during those four decades. Their route wasn’t at all simple or direct.

So perhaps one lesson for us is to discern, like Moses, what God has given us to do, and to do it to the best of our ability; and to discern what God has not given us to do, and to let whatever-that-may-be go with grace and peace.

Lunch in Vancouver clouds!

Karin Heath at Camp Bow-Isle

shares her delicious homemade cookies!

My first clue that these women were serious hikers came when Joan offered some “hockey tape” for protecting friction areas on my (tender Midwestern American) feet. No, she didn’t need any tape for a short (8-hour) hike like this one.

So we walked a couple of blocks to the bus (I am learning to appreciate communities with good public transportation!), connected with Elaine and Shirley, caught the ferry and, following a ten-minute trip across the water, walked off the ferry into a quaint little village.

Some background: I knew Joan was a hiker, and when she invited me to visit her and Jim, I asked if we might do some hiking. She graciously arranged a very special trip with her hiking club (another clue) to Elaine’s A-frame on the Bowen Island.

So now from the village straight into the forest we trekked, first to a pre-season tour of summer Camp Bow-Isle which Joan had kindly arranged. Karin Heath graciously shared her delicious cookies with us, and we eagerly scarfed down more than was polite.

Her husband and camp director, Jon, and their black lab graciously guided us straight up through a magnificent pine forest for about an hour, to connect us with the path to our luncheon view.

After lunch. Notice the fog/coud to Elaine's left.

We lunched near the summit of Mount Gardiner on a cloud-drenched slanty rock – empty plastic bags serving as sit-upons and keeping our bottoms dry. Surrounded by a mist of gray tree trunks, we munched happily, nonetheless, on very good sandwiches on home-made bread.

This day I learned the grace of friends and total strangers. Seasoned hikers that they were, they could have reached the lunch rock an hour earlier had they not frequently and cheerfully, it must be added, stopped and waited for their Illinois "flatland" novice to catch up.

Being on the receiving end of compassion and patience – over and over – was something new for me. It’s amazing how humble and grateful at the same time, it makes you feel.