The Abandoning Wandering
One of my favorite J.R.R. Tolkien quotes states, "Not all those who wander are lost." It's a line from the poem All That is Gold Does Not Glitter. I think I love this quote because I like to wander, with the name Neuenschwander, what do you expect.
I will probably return to this subject at a later
date, but wanted to approach the idea.
When I look at the story of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness.
Joshua 5:6 recounts, "For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord; the Lord swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey."
I have taught this story for years and each time I feel that I come closer to understanding. Still today I am wondering about the process. They spend years in the wilderness. During this time they do worship God. They do receive instruction. They do have good an bad times. They submit, but also rebel. They older rebellious generation dies off and the younger generation is left knowing only the wandering life as normal.
This makes me wonder about my walk with God. I have now walked with God for over twenty years. It's a generation really. Years spent seeing the different rebellious parts of me be put to death. As I approach this next stage of life I truly wonder if I am at a loss because it will be so different. Could it be that I have grown so accustom to the WILDERNESS, that I can not perceive the promised land?
I wonder if my struggle could possibly be a indication of how the American church in general has acclimatized to the wilderness as the norm. I better get back on track. That is way to big a subject for me to tackle today.
The long and short of it is this: I am excited to stop wandering, and willing go fight in the land. -Whatever battles need to take place in order to let me settle into that land.
-Whatever soil needs to be tilled in my heart in order for me to rest in the Lord.
-Whatever sacrifice needs to be made for me to hold nothing back from my God.
I understand that fear kept them from the land. Fear, uncertainty and longing for the familiar all bound together to tare their hearts from the God of Signs and Wonders. So as I stand here preparing to cross multiple rivers, mountains and valleys, ...
I am moved with JOYFUL TREPIDATION, and I wonder if I am truly ready to stop wandering.
One of my favorite J.R.R. Tolkien quotes states, "Not all those who wander are lost." It's a line from the poem All That is Gold Does Not Glitter. I think I love this quote because I like to wander, with the name Neuenschwander, what do you expect. I will probably return to this subject at a later
date, but wanted to approach the idea.
When I look at the story of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness.
Joshua 5:6 recounts, "For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord; the Lord swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey."
I have taught this story for years and each time I feel that I come closer to understanding. Still today I am wondering about the process. They spend years in the wilderness. During this time they do worship God. They do receive instruction. They do have good an bad times. They submit, but also rebel. They older rebellious generation dies off and the younger generation is left knowing only the wandering life as normal.
This makes me wonder about my walk with God. I have now walked with God for over twenty years. It's a generation really. Years spent seeing the different rebellious parts of me be put to death. As I approach this next stage of life I truly wonder if I am at a loss because it will be so different. Could it be that I have grown so accustom to the WILDERNESS, that I can not perceive the promised land?
I wonder if my struggle could possibly be a indication of how the American church in general has acclimatized to the wilderness as the norm. I better get back on track. That is way to big a subject for me to tackle today.
The long and short of it is this: I am excited to stop wandering, and willing go fight in the land. -Whatever battles need to take place in order to let me settle into that land.
-Whatever soil needs to be tilled in my heart in order for me to rest in the Lord.
-Whatever sacrifice needs to be made for me to hold nothing back from my God.
I understand that fear kept them from the land. Fear, uncertainty and longing for the familiar all bound together to tare their hearts from the God of Signs and Wonders. So as I stand here preparing to cross multiple rivers, mountains and valleys, ...
I am moved with JOYFUL TREPIDATION, and I wonder if I am truly ready to stop wandering.
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