Life Lessons from the National Parks

May 31, 2010

Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So Elisha answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:17

Someone drew my attention to an article published in 2003 in Government Executive magazine, listing the ten most dangerous national parks, based on a survey of park rangers.

It’s a very interesting list because of the reasons why they’re hazardous. In four of them, drugs—trafficking and smuggling primarily—are to blame. A heavy illegal immigrant presence is another concern, mainly in parks along the Mexican border—Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Big Bend National Park and Padre Island National Seashore. The San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico deals with urban gangs. Trouble also comes in the form of plant and animal poaching, not enough equipment or staff, crime and plain old overcrowding.

New Jersey’s Gateway National Recreation Area also makes the list, since it supports more than 2 million visitors annually, and must contend with “potential terrorist targets in major shipping lanes” (Sandy Hook, where Gateway is located, is situated near the entrance to New York City’s harbor). But its most interesting dilemma, according to the report, is that it’s the state’s only beach to allow alcohol and nudity.

Who knew nude sunbathing could present such peril?! For the record, while this is where Joe and I usually go when we travel to the Jersey Shore, we do not go to the nude beach (although I at least have wondered aloud what it’s like…)

The apostle Paul was someone who knew all about danger. He had several adventures, scrapes and near escapes, chronicled in the book of Acts—blindness (9:8, 12, 17-18), persecution (13:50), stoning (14:4,5), arrest and beatings (16:19-24; 21:30-34; 22:24-29; 23-28), death threats (23:12-14), shipwreck (27:41-44)—even a snake bite (28:3-6)!  Sometimes, though, I have a hard time with Paul’s conclusion in 2 Corinthians 4:8 and 9: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…”  But I have felt crushed, despairing, forsaken or destroyed, I argue. And that’s my problem in a nutshell: I may be afflicted, perplexed, persecuted and struck down, but my feelings aren’t in charge—God is. And if He says He won’t let things get to the point of no return, then I’ve got to trust Him to work it out. And that’s just what Paul concludes too: his sufferings were “in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God” (2 Corinthians 1:9). So simple…yet so hard to do!

Yep, there’s danger all around, in our national parks, in our communities and even within ourselves. But I pray as Elisha did, that our eyes would be open to see that the One who is with us is so very much more than all that is against us.

Comments (1) Jun 02 2010

February 1, 2010

Be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. Matthew 24:42

I was in the airport when the first reports about the earthquake in Haiti were coming in. Then I hopped a plane to Egypt, where for nine days I didn’t have access to an English newspaper or broadcast.  It wasn’t until I got home that I learned the full scope of the tragedy.

(Don’t expect me to make some sort of pronouncement about God’s judgment or anything—there’s suffering and death on top of terrible poverty and years of corruption, and we need to be weeping along with Haiti (Romans 12:15), and helping, not wasting our time issuing verdicts).

Today I read a small item in the paper about recent seismic activity in Yellowstone. It seems that for the last couple of weeks, more than a hundred tiny tremors a day have rattled a section of the park about ten miles northwest of the Old Faithful geyser. Scientists monitoring the situation are on alert but not alarmed, and they don’t believe the tremors are indications of a larger event to come.

So much talk about earthquakes made me curious about where the word comes up in the Bible. I found several mentions. Amos 1:1 refers to one (a commentary says that earthquakes were so common that for the prophet to have noted it, it must have been unusually severe). Zechariah also cites this event (14:5), as does the historian Josephus, according to the commentary.

Then there is the earthquake that occurred when Jesus died on the cross (Matthew 27:50-54), which tore the veil separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple (Exodus 26:37, 38:18; Hebrews 9:3), caused tombs to open and people to rise up out of them, and impressed a centurion so much that he believed in Jesus on the spot. I also read the account of Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail, praying and singing their hearts out when a temblor shook the foundations of the prison, flung open all the doors and unlocked the prisoners’ chains (Acts 16:25-34). Again, it made such an impact that the guard immediately became a Christian.

But perhaps the most compelling citations have to do with what is commonly called the end times, when Jesus returns to earth. When asked by His disciples what signs they should look for, Jesus mentions several things, including earthquakes, and gives further illustrations through several parables (Matthew 24 and 25). The book of Revelation alludes to many cosmic disturbances (6:12-14), and a series of tremors (8:5; 11:13, 19), including one that will be “such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth” (16:18). Sobering stuff.

Now, I’m not going to start predicting the end of the world is near, because Scripture explicitly states that’s impossible (Matthew 24:36, 42 50; 25:13), and we can be easily misled by false teachers who try to set dates (Matthew 24:4, 5, 11, 23, 24). The two abiding principles I do get from all these passages are, 1) when Jesus comes, it will be unmistakable (Matthew 24:27-31) and, 2) we need to act as if it would happen any moment (Matthew 24:42-44, 25:13).

I imagine most Haitians had no idea a massive earthquake was on the way—they were too busy just trying to survive to give it much thought, if any at all. In that, they are not too much different from the rest of us, as we plod along day by day, dealing with Yellowstone-like rumblings and occasional scary upheavals that can leave us shaken and bereft. But there will come a day when we’ll be hit by The Big One, which will be way beyond anything the world has ever experienced.

The question I ask myself is: will I be ready?

Comments (2) Feb 01 2010

November 9, 2009

And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

I’m still working my way through the Ken Burns’ park series that my husband Joe graciously recorded for me while I was in Nebraska. And I continue to peruse articles I’ve cut out of the papers about the series (can you tell I am way behind on everything??)

One of the pieces I’ve read is from The New York Times, an interview with Mr. Burns and his collaborator, Dayton Duncan. In this article, the author mentions that Mr. Duncan “frequently chokes up” when discussing the film project. “It tells the multiple stories, Mr. Duncan said, of ‘an individual, a small group of people, an organization who fell in love with a place so deeply that they dedicated themselves to finally convince the government over a long struggle that it should be set aside for everyone…In each place, there’s great conflict and drama and unbelievable characters and great scenery.’”

When asked about all the travels he makes to promote his work, Ken Burns says, “There’s an evangelical dimension to it…I like shooting; I like getting up at 3 a.m. and getting out with the camera and getting out and filming…And then I love the proselytizing.” In reality, he says, he’s “’made the same film over and over again,’ one with a single theme at its core: ‘”Who are we?”’”

The enthusiasm of these two men for their work and this specific project—which took ten years—is obvious. The result, the Times’ writer says, is “an unabashed love letter.”

I found myself thinking that the Bible is also a “love letter,” albeit a much more important and life-changing one than any film, and it has all the same exciting elements Mr. Duncan raved about:

–people who were so committed to following God that they paid for it with their lives—for examples, see the book of Acts, or Hebrews 11, which I mentioned in my last post

–great conflict—Romans 7:7-25 outlines what is perhaps the greatest conflict of all, the one within ourselves

–drama—Paul’s radical conversion from persecutor to devoted follower, for one (Acts 9), or the incredible story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50)

–unbelievable characters—Samson, a cautionary study in contrasts (Judges 13-16); Rahab, a prostitute who was included in the Messianic line (Exodus 2:1-21, 6:22-23; Matthew 1:5); and Ananias and Sapphira, a couple who dropped dead when caught in a lie (Acts 5:1-10); to name just a few

– great scenery—you can’t beat the description of heaven in Revelation 21:10-27!

If the apostle Paul confessed he wasn’t a terrific speaker or exceptionally wise, and trembled from fear when he spoke, what excuse do we have to keep silent about the greatest story ever written?

We don’t need to go to seminary or evangelism seminars to tell the story, although those things have their place. All we have to do is, like Ken Burns, keep relaying the same message over and over again, one with a single theme at its core: Who are we?

The simple but profound answer is found in Romans 3:23, 6:23; and Ephesians 2:8 & 9: we are sinners saved from God’s wrath by His amazing grace.

Comments (0) Nov 10 2009

November 2, 2009

And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight… others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated…wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. Hebrews 11:32-34, 36-37

This Saturday, November 7, will be a special day in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Seven years after Congress authorized its creation, the Flight 93 National Memorial will finally break ground.

This site will overlook where United Flight 93 plunged into a remote field on September 11, 2001, while its passengers and crew fought to resist a terrorist attack on our nation’s capital. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar heads the delegation of elected officials, relatives of those who died, first responders and National Park Service representatives who will gather for the solemn occasion.

What took so long, you might ask? Well, as a National Parks Traveler post notes, there were all kinds of problems getting to groundbreaking day. The severely criticized master design had to be reworked. Fundraising is still $20 million short of its goal. Land acquisition hit many snags. September 11, 2011—the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks—is the memorial’s hoped-for Dedication Day.

Family members at Saturday’s event will undoubtedly be flooded with both comforting and difficult memories. Speeches about the bravery of the forty people on board Flight 93 will most likely be included. They will be called heroes, and rightly so.

When I think of heroes, I’m always reminded of the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11. An interesting exercise is to read through the entire chapter, then go back in the Old Testament and read about each person and episode cited. But beginning at verse 32, the details change, and no more specific names and stories are mentioned. As The Wycliffe Bible Commentary puts it:

The writer [the author of the book of Hebrews remains uncertain] resorts to piling
up examples, because of the impossibility of taking each case separately. The list
is impressive including some of the Judges, the greatest of Israel’s kings–David,
and one of her greatest prophets–Samuel.
The list of deeds is equally impressive. In some cases the incidents referred to are
well known; in others they are more obscure. In each instance, however, something
typical of those who live by faith is brought out. The faith that makes such deeds
possible, deeds of valor, might, courage, or perseverance. And those are the
kinds of experience that those who live by faith are called upon to endure.

WHAT? We should expect being sawn in two?? Not necessarily—unless, of course, you become a magician’s assistant. Seriously though, the sobering, uncomfortable truth bluntly stated by the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 3:12 still stands: everyone who wants to live a godly life in Jesus will be persecuted. Sure, most of us may never be subjected to the mistreatments recounted in Hebrews 11—thrown into a den of lions, tortured, beaten or put in jail, or forced to live in a cave because of our faith. (If you’re like me, when you hear about the trials and tests of fellow Christians in other parts of the world, you pray for them, wonder how you would react in the same circumstances, and then pray again that you’ll never find out!) But Scripture is pretty clear that we should be prepared for some kind of negative consequences as we follow Jesus.

Oh, but there’s a memorial in the works for those who stand firm in the faith! It may seem like a long time coming, but it’s on the way, says the apostle John:

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it…
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne,
and the books were opened. Another book was opened, which was
the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had
done as recorded in the books…Nothing impure will ever enter [heaven]
nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those
‘whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
(Revelation 20:12, 21:27 )

Whatever we are called upon to endure in serving the Lord, whatever deeds of valor, might, courage or perseverance we might perform in His service, let us press on for this highest honor, the most fabulous heroes’ welcome we could ever imagine, straight from the mouth of the Hero of Heroes:

“Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21, 23)

Comments (4) Nov 05 2009

May 1, 2009

But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. Psalm 3:3, 4

I grew up with a bunch of jokesters, and so did my husband Joe. We all like to think up puns and witty remarks, and occasionally, pull good-natured pranks on each other.

One time, though, Joe went a little too far. We, along with our ten-year-old daughter Mimi and my mom, were on a trail at the Grand Canyon. I had wandered ahead of the rest of them when I heard Joe call out, “Look, Penny!”

I turned around to see his and Mimi’s grinning faces just visible over the precipice. “What are you doing?” I shouted, my gut twisting into a big knot. “Are you out of your mind?” My poor mother, who’d seen them lower themselves into position, looked like she was about to pass out.

“Don’t worry, we’re on a ledge,” Joe assured me.

“I don’t care, get back up here!”

I couldn’t watch as the two scrambled up, immensely pleased that they’d pulled off such a great stunt. “That was fun!” Mimi said as I glowered at her father.

“What were you thinking?” I asked him. “You both could have been hurt!

Joe dismissed my alarm with a wave of his hand. “We weren’t in any danger. We had plenty of room.”

(To this day, Joe has a good laugh remembering the incident. I’d sure like to see his face if I ever tried something like that…)

Heart-stopping fear—that’s what I experienced that day at the Grand Canyon. I wish I never had to feel that way again, but unfortunately, I know only too well that I will. I have a history of anxiety attacks, which often evoke that same extreme panicky sensation of impending doom. Even though I’ve had therapy to understand the root causes of and what triggers these episodes of intense fear, and I take medication to make up for the chemicals my brain lacks to control them, I don’t believe I’ll ever be completely free of them this side of heaven.

We all have thorns—fleshly and otherwise—that torment and harass us (the apostle Paul talks frankly about his in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10). At times, they can torture us until it seems as if we’re tottering on the edge, hanging on for dear life.

As the saying goes, “Don’t look down!” Instead—

Look around! God is our promised protective shield, and we’re safely in His care, no matter what’s happening.

Look up! One day He’s coming back to rule with justice and peace from high atop Mt. Zion, and all our difficulties will be as nothing.

Until then, I hope the Park Service puts up new guardrails at the Grand Canyon. Some people just can’t be trusted…

Comments (1) May 01 2009