Purple Mountain's Majesty

Today we remember 9/11. Patriotism is on high alert. As I recall this scene out my window when I lived briefly near the Mission Mountains I hear the refrain of "America, the Beautiful" echoing in my brain. We are blessed with 'purple mountain's majesty' on a regular basis out here in Montana. Perhaps too often though, I forget the price that is paid daily for me to enjoy such sights. On this day, I remember though and am grateful for such a sacrifice. And that remembering leads me to remember the One who initiated the sacrifice of sacrifices...Jesus himself. And that remembering leads me to humility...why would he do that for me? Simply because he loves me! Awesome! And so on this day, I am not only humbled by sacrifice...but am humbled by the majesty of purple mountains that reflect and shout out the majesty of our Lord who is indeed in control of everything...even 9/11.

Joyful Servants!

Joyful Servants! I wrote an entire year's worth of parochial day school bible studies on that topic one year...four studies a week for a nine month school year. I could dig it out of a file somewhere and see what I wrote about. But somehow, what I wrote is not the point. It is the images I recall of the 40 some volunteers I had working in the school that year that sticks with me. They were indeed joyful servants...even when a particular circumstance did not warrant joy. You see they had something more to give that circumstances could not erase. They followed the example of their Lord when he knelt down and washed the feet of his disciples just hours before his arrest and trial. They followed the example of their Lord who chose to serve by dying for them...and they wanted to pass that joy on to others. It was awesome then...and it is awesome now. Not only to remember those people but to continue through the years to see it in others as well...and that is what the images below illustrate for me. JOYFUL SERVANTS who gave of their time and their abilities to see that adventure retreats happened here at Athelas. Without such servants, Athelas Outdoor Ministry could not function. Even when the circumstances did not warrant a joyful heart, they gave it freely. So to all the joyful services rendered on behalf of this ministry, Athelas extends to you a huge hug of gratitude! Thanks for teaching, mentoring, building, cleaning outhouses, washing dishes, building fires, guiding, cooking, listening, encouraging and loving all those God sent our way this past year. May you continue in HIS service with a joyful heart so that others may know better how to follow in His Steps!

Tradition--"The Wet Butt Picture"

If you should by chance ever happen to go to Glacier Park and see a bunch of people bent over showing off the wet butt of their pants, laughing and giggling the while...most likely it is a bunch of people somehow or other associated with the Kaarre tradition. Whenever one hikes the mountains in spring or summer and runs across patches of remaining winter snow, tradition dictates that you climb to the top of the patch and slide down on your butt and take a picture. So what makes it tradition? Only that as the Kaarres began their family adventures with their young children that is what they did time and time again. The tradition continues now with others who join them on adventure retreats. Does it make sense? Is it comfy? Is it beneficial? Who knows? What we do know is that it is crazy and wild and brings a sense of joy and belonging. I think that is what tradition does...brings with it a sense of joy and belonging. It is delightful to see people catch that spirit and delve into the experience not expecting it to make sense, yet somehow knowing that though they will hike the rest of the day with uncomfy wet butts, they will reap some unconscious benefit from having just participated in someone else's crazy tradition. We have lots of crazy traditions in our adventurous lives. We hope you will get to experience the sense of joy and belonging that tradition brings to our lives. What traditions do you have that do the same?

We're Back!

It's been about a year since Athelas Today has been on line. It's been a year of growing and doing and learning...so that is not all bad. Athelas Outdoor Ministry, Inc. has had an awesome summer of retreats. Praise God that in all the adventures all were safe and sound and many lives were impacted by His Word! Local groups as well as groups from Minnesota, Illinois and Utah graced us with their presence and enjoyed the sights, sounds, and beauty of camping and living outdoors in Montana. Athelas Outdoor Ministry is NOT your typical summer church camp. Based on a philosophy of adventure education, Athelas challenges each participant to be just that...a participant. Retreat-ers at Athelas are active participants in challenging and renewing adventures that result in personal growth in many areas of life. Summer 2010 is history, but it is living history in that the adventure stories and group in jokes continue to fly around the social networking sites and people are drawn together in community for having been a part of the Athelas adventures whether they have ever met in person or not. Enjoy a few images of Summer 2010 facebook, the Athelas website and those posted here. We believe they tell the story of what Athelas is about!

Courage

This young lady was no way going to rock climb. She was afraid of heights. No amount of logic would convince her she should at least try it. As a retreat participant she accompanied her class to the rock climbing destination. She followed suit in donning rock climbing gear. She listened to instruction and she followed it. She climbed rocks. Was it because she was no longer afraid of heights? No! But she learned to put her trust in something bigger than herself. The encouragement of instructors, peers and other adults helped her to have courage. Courage is not the absence of fear but rather fear taking a back seat to trust and encouragement. God asks us to be courageous in our faith life. He doesn't say we won't be afraid to share our faith. But He does ask us to trust him. As we receive encouragement from the 'cloud of witnesses' already gone ahead of us and from those in our daily lives, we too can climb the heights. God asks us to en'courage' others as well so they can be courageous witnesses to the faith. Does this young lady look like rock climbing was fun! You bet she does! It was one of her favorite activities! Courage made all the difference!



1

Wait on the Lord!

Attended a bible study on the book of Esther today. Today's session was written just for me. Talked about the right time for doing things. Sometimes it is NOW, sometimes it is WAIT for my timing, sometimes it is WAIT on someone else's timing, and sometimes it is WAIT for God's timing. The difficult thing is knowing the difference and knowing when to WAIT and when to act. How exactly does one WAIT on the Lord? What does WAITing on the Lord entail? I find I want things to be my way and I want them now. Esther wanted to expose Naaman and his evil intents but more so she wanted to deliver her people. God gave her the opportunity to have Naaman's evil intent exposed. The King twice asked her to present her request to him. She waited for the right motive to be in her heart before presenting her request to the King. She waited for another banquet and then cleverly let Namaan 'hang' himself. She waited for the Lord's timing. And the Lord strengthened her and she was able to deliver her people. Her heart was not set on revenge and just getting what she wanted. Her heart was a servant heart that thought first of her people. She waited on the Lord. Will I wait on the Lord?

What do I have to say today?

For one brief moment today I pretended I was God. Someone on facebook was wondering what God had in store for them this week. "God" 's response was 'Lots! And I will be right beside you!' I have often wondered about what God had in store for me. Through the year's I have come to the conclusion that He doesn't really care what I do as long as I love Him with all my heart, soul, strength and mind...AND love my neighbor as myself. What a freeing thought this has been for me. And then...there is the promise that He will be present with me as I love. He will be right beside me to show me the way to love better. No pressure to figure out His will...I know it! Now that He has loved me, I'm free to choose how to love Him and others! How cool is that?