Spiritual Trek

In conversation with a friend recently,  we were discussing our lives as 'spiritual journeys'.   I happened to comment that a spiritual trek might be a better description.

I don't know why I said that, really.  But it got me to thinking.  And then I decided to look up the word trek.

I probably used the word 'trek' because in my mind, a spiritual journey is always an arduous journey, which is the way trek is described.  I happen to know that from encountering the word a lot in crossword puzzles recently.

The word is chiefly from Afrikaans, originally from Dutch, akin to an old German word trechan, meaning to pull.   [Can you tell I watched the National Spelling Bee recently??]

Whenever the word trek is used, it implies something more challenging than a mere journey.  In fact, in its original context, it even meant to travel by ox wagon, which must have been a very rough trip.

A spiritual journey is never an easy journey, because the goal is to learn and grow and change.  In order to learn and grow, one must be shaken out of their regular routines or beliefs or patterns or thoughts.  Not surprisingly, many people resist that.

A spiritual trek is guaranteed to take one through difficult internal terrain.   It is not for the faint of heart.

While I have not trekked the Himalayas,  I definitely have been trekking all my life on the spiritual path.   Along that road, one has to face their demons, and mistakes, and fears.

And perhaps most difficult of all, one has to ultimately learn to love themselves despite all that.

A Wedding

Today we attended a wedding.  To the right is the Chapel at Casowasco, where the wedding took place.  The bride and groom met at Casowasco  (Camping Ministry) so that location was fitting.

As I thought about weddings,  I realized that most of the weddings that I have attended have been those of relatives, or children, or occasionally, those at which I might have officiated.  The most recent weddings attended were those of a grand-daughter in 2008 and daughters in 2010.

 It is most rare to be invited to a wedding simply as a "guest".  I cannot even remember the last time that happened.  That occurred in this particular case because I was once the pastor of the bride,  Stephanie.  During the years I was her pastor, she was confirmed

 Stephanie's father is clergy, and they made the same choice clergy families often make---the clergy father officiated at the service.  He did well, except for a couple of moments when he clearly was overcome by emotion and could not speak.  But that only lasted a couple of seconds.

Stephanie and Brian Henry

Gerry and I seemed to be sitting at the "clergy" table.  Several of Stephanie's former pastors, as well as some of her clergy friends were also in attendance.  She has been active in the conference ministries even as an adult, and has many connections.

Gerry also has connections to Casowasco having served on the conference Board of Trustees for some years, and the Board of Camping Ministries.   We both invested much sweat equity there over the years.


Thus, my name is embedded in the walkway.

Versions of Me

I've been through more iterations of myself than I can count.

The two that I can most clearly remember from childhood are:  the  fat kid,  the preacher's kid.   I internalized both of those rather deeply, the first in particular, which took many many years to transform into something more positive.

 Being the "preacher's kid" in the deep south of the fifties and sixties also carried quite a bit of baggage, which also took time to sort through.   That one was largely positive, but I wanted to be my own self, and not known by my father's position.

 It certainly is most ironic that, in the end,  by choice, I took my father's position as my own primary identity.

There are many names associated with that.  Minister, ordained elder, clergy, clergywoman, pastor, parson, priest, reverend.  I think I more often have referred to myself as preacher, probably because that was the most passionate part for me.

Then over time and the decades,  I incarnated into many forms.  Southerner.  Yankee.  For a while I was a teacher.  Professional.  Leader.

I have been a school board member, a faithful church member, a tennis player (athlete), a slimnastics instructor, and on and on the list goes. Wife.  Friend, aunt, niece, sister.   Daughter.

Child, Youth, Adult, Senior Citizen, Retiree.

Most of all,  I am mother.  (And for a time, single mother.)   Now, grandmother. Step-mother. Step-great-grandmother.  Mother-in-law.

Often, over my lifetime, I've been the resident poet, always some version of writer. (of articles, newsletters, short stories, sermons, etc.)  And more recently, novelist.

I am an avid reader.  Today I went to the library to get a pile of books to read.  The clerk at the desk looked at my name which came up on the computer with my library card.  She said,  "Oh, are you the author?"

I am scheduled to give a Book Talk there in August, so she recognized my name.  Still, I think that might be the first time that I have been primarily identified by that particular version of me.

Billboards

I remember the time when billboards littering highway routes were the norm.  Now they are rare, and in some places, I suppose even illegal.   Billboards have been replaced by small highway signs the precede exit ramps from major highways.

  I am guessing that in some places on non-interstate routes, one might still see billboards.  I think I'll check that out on our travels this summer.  For at least a portion of the trip, we will definitely be traveling a non-thoroughfare roads.  I will see if I can find one that tops my favorite one locally!

There is a particular billboard that one drives past on the local highway from Ithaca toward home.  One only gets a moment to read or glimpse a billboard message.   I remember the first time that I saw this particular one, I read it, I pondered it;  it took me a few moments to figure out what it was all about.  And that is what I like about it so much.  It is subtle.

This is absolutely the cleverest, most unique billboard advertisement I have ever seen.  There is an icon in the upper corner, and I do not remember the exact company, but it is either for a medical convenient care, or urgent care center--emergency room alternatives.

It takes a few minutes to absorb the unusual message, but it is worth repeating here!

Chicken noodle care in ramen noodle time.