Life Lessons from the National Parks

May 3, 2010

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

My favorite website about the national parks—aside from the National Park Service site, of course—is National Parks Traveler. A few weeks ago, founder and Editor-in Chief Kurt Repanshek wrote a review of a new book, Ranger Confidential: Living, Working and Dying in the National Parks, by former ranger Andrea Lankford.

The image of park rangers, as Mr. Repanshek notes, is as “fit and polite, beaming dazzling smiles, displaying knowledge that knows no bounds, armed with nerves of steel, and with dashing personalities” (undoubtedly, the spiffy uniforms and distinctive hat add to this illusion). This ideal, however, contrasts with many accounts in the book: “Ms. Lankford tells us of highly placed rangers who, when angered, throw tantrums, throw safety helmets, kick medical kits, smack fellow rangers in the head with paddles…[of] sexual harassment within the ranks [and] pitiful housing conditions for both rangers and concessions employees, of park employees killed on the job, of suicides in the parks.”

Amazon describes Ranger Confidential as a “graphic and yet surprisingly funny account of her and others’ extraordinary careers. Lankford unveils a world in which park rangers struggle to maintain their idealism in the face of death, disillusionment, and the loss of a comrade killed while holding that thin green line between protecting the park from the people, the people from the park, and the people from each other.”

Of course, we shouldn’t be surprised to find that park rangers have their faults and foibles; after all, they’re people just like us. The fact is, everyone stumbles and falls (Romans 3:23). None of us lives up to our ideals all the time, Christians included.

But sometimes we Christians forget that. We fall prey to the lie that we always have to be happy, act perfectly, and look like we have it all together in order to represent God properly. The struggle to maintain Christian idealism in the face of the hard facts of life—to be, as Jesus puts it, “shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16)—is one of the biggest challenges of living God’s way, I find. Being honest about how we find strength and help in the midst of temptations and trials is the best example of showing that God is real, loving and active in human affairs.

Mr. Repanshek concludes his review by saying, “What should be made of Ranger Confidential and the image of the Park Service it casts? In one respect, perhaps it should be realized that for an agency with some 20,000 employees, many who naturally are hard-charging and living on the edge, and whose budget is controlled not only by Congress but by political appointees, perfection cannot exist, no matter how idealistic the Park Service is viewed. And yet, despite the hardships and the inequities that exist in the agency, there is something to be said about wearing the gray and the green, as Ms. Lankford seems to imply in her closing words.”

Perfection doesn’t exist in the Christian life either, at least this side of heaven. And yet, despite the hardships and inequities that exist here on earth, there is something to be said about the uniform we wear as God’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20): “I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10).

Comments (2) May 05 2010

February 8, 2010

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:25-27

The Winter Olympics begin this week!

I don’t know about you, but I’ll be watching at least some of the competition. I usually try to see the opening and closing ceremonies, because they’re so spectacular, and I’ll try to catch some of my favorite sports, especially ice skating (spoken like a real girl, I know).

Competition and comparison have been on my mind constantly since I joined a gym in January. It’s been a while since I’ve been in an exercise class, and I’d forgotten how easily they draw me into the comparison trap. I tend to gravitate to a spot in the back of the room in these classes, which means I get to see all the people in front of me who seem to kick higher, have more endurance and better looking hair than me (yeah, I’m that shallow…). I always have to remind myself that I’m not competing with any of them—the only one I’m battling is me, to get myself stronger, build up my endurance and keep extra pounds off of me (I’ve just about given up on the hair…)

And just how does this relate to the national parks? The papers have been full of reports of the administration’s proposed 2011 budget, which freezes funding for most domestic programs–including the National Park Service, as specifically noted by The New York Times–at current levels for three years. Kurt Repanshek discusses this issue in another thoughtful National Park Traveler posting, as he wonders whether the momentum gained from Ken Burns’ national park television series and the subsequent leap in park attendance for 2009 will all be for nothing due to lack of money.

Then I read a Frommer’s newsletter with a quote from Mr. Burns, in answer to a question about whether each American should purchase a park pass every season. “I think it’s essential to the survival of the country that people use and exercise their parks,” he said. “Like anything that doesn’t get exercise, it has a tendency to atrophy. We want people to go out and see their property. You own the grandest canyon in the world. All you have to do is go out and visit it.”

I suspect Mr. Burns would agree that flat funding for the National Park Service is not a good thing. But I also think he feels that regardless of what Congress does, and despite what little control we individuals may have in setting our nation’s budget, citizens must act on their own. And that means visiting the parks. We’ve got to use ‘em or lose ‘em.

That’s the exact same message about the Christian life the apostle Paul is trying to get across in the above verse. We can’t control everything that goes on in the race of life.  What each one of us can do, however, is exercise our spiritual muscles, day in and day out, to enable us to reach the prize of eternal life.

At the end of the gospel of John, after His resurrection and before He goes back to heaven,  Jesus urges Peter to continue on in his ministry, hinting that his life might not have a real happy ending. Peter looks over at John (who sometimes describes himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”–John 21:20. What’s up with that??) and asks, “Lord, what about him?” (John 21:21). Meaning, “Hey, no suffering for him? Is he going to get off scot free?” (which he doesn’t, as we find out in Revelation 1:9). But Jesus will have none of that comparison nonsense: “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!” (John 21:22).

That says to me that I can’t be sizing myself up in regard to other believers who know more Scripture, who seem to sail through crises with the greatest of ease and who God appears to favor perhaps a little more than me.  Just as comparing myself to fellow exercisers is no help at all to my physical development, so too matching up my spiritual life against everybody else’s gets me nowhere. I need to be about running my own race, and not so much checking out the position of the rest of the team.

I hope you’ll enjoy the Olympics. I urge you to do what you can to stay fit.  You know I also want you to think about spending your vacation in a national park. But above all, I pray that your first priority is keeping your soul in good shape.

Comments (2) Feb 08 2010

December 28, 2009

Thomas said to Him, “Lord…how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” John 14:5, 6

A shout out to my cousin Beth, who called my attention to an Utne Reader blog post by Keith Goetzman entitled “Don’t Be a National Parks Bagger.” This is what he has to say about the attempt by people to see all 58 national parks:

What’s wrong with visiting all the parks? Well, for starters, doing so would leave a massive carbon footprint…If we burned the auto and airplane fuel it would take to visit all the parks, many of which are in remote and hard-to-reach locations, we’d emit a huge amount of CO2 that ultimately would work against the very places we’re trying to preserve…For another thing, “park bagging,” as I’ve heard it called, is ultimately an elitist pursuit, a game that very few can play. Face it, only the wealthiest and luckiest among us has the vacation time, the money, and the means to have a chance at ticking off all 58 parks, and even announcing your achievement to the world can come perilously close to bragging about what an amazing fortunate life you lead—not the sort of message parks advocates should be sending.

Mr. Goetzman suggests that instead of a “collect ‘em all” mentality, national park lovers should instead adopt a “better, nobler impulse,” that is, to acquaint themselves with just a few parks very well rather than “attempt to superficially survey them all in baseball-card-collector fashion.”

Here’s part of what Kurt Repanshek of National Parks Traveler has to say in response:

Hopefully the folks who are members of the National Park Travelers Club don’t catch wind of his column. This group celebrates travelers who look at visiting as many of the 391 units of the National Park System not as something that’s elitist but rather something that’s both a challenge and a great way to celebrate and appreciate the national parks movement in the United States…
Indeed, if all you seek to attain is a National Park Passport stamp, then yes, “park bagging” is over-rated and denies those involved in such an endeavor a tremendous opportunity to see fantastic landscapes and get at least an introduction to different ways of life and cultures...Many people do fall in love with a small handful of parks, and visit them time and time and time again, which can be a wonderfully rewarding experience. But let’s not be so self-righteous as to ridicule those who want to see as many of these magnificent landscapes and soak up the rewards they offer.

All of this back and forth about carbon footprints and elitism is certainly thought provoking, and I tend to side with Mr. Repanshek’s more conciliatory position. The parks are enjoyable both as day trips, and as longer, more involved expeditions. Environmental impact is a consideration, but it’s really not for one person to say which is the “right” way to see our national parks.

Unfortunately, many people apply that same reasoning to faith. “It doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you’re sincere,” is the prevailing sentiment. “What’s true for you may not be true for me.” To believe Jesus’ claim In John 14:6, that there is one truth and one way, is seen these days as intolerant and elitist in the extreme.

I mentioned one response to this point of view in a previous post, so for now I’ll just look at it from the “exclusivity” angle. If we start with the concept that there is a God who is our Creator (and establishing that fact is a whole ‘nother discussion for a whole ‘nother day!), then He has the right to set the rules: “Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker—An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’” (Isaiah 45:9).

Does that make God elitist? Hardly! Jesus makes it plain that He came for the whole world (John 3:16), that whoever seeks Him finds Him (Matthew 7:7-11, Revelation 3:20), whoever is thirsty for Him can be satisfied (Isaiah 55:1-3, Revelation 22:17), and whoever believes in Him receives forgiveness (Acts 10:43). Scripture is full of “whoever’s!”

What God does not have tolerance for are the religious “baggers” who are only interested in the “stamp” assuring them of heaven. He makes it clear in Revelation 3:15 and 16 that superficial, lukewarm faith just doesn’t cut it.

But for those who fully fall in love with the Lord, who acquaint themselves with Him, who “visit” Him time and time and time again, and celebrate and appreciate all He’s done for them, a rewarding experience awaits (Hebrews 11:6).

Yes, a life dedicated to God can be a challenge, but the benefits are more fantastic than even the most exquisite landscape, both now and for all eternity.

And no worries about the carbon footprint!

Comments (2) Dec 30 2009

November 30, 2009

For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty…And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place… 2 Peter 1:16, 19

The National Park Service acquired a new leader this fall. Jon Jarvis is a long-time NPS employee who was most recently director of the agency’s Pacific West regional office.

In a Frommer’s travel website article, author Kurt Repanshek quotes from an email Mr. Jarvis sent out the day after he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate, highlighting his priorities. The director hopes to concentrate on four areas during his tenure—strengthening the Park Service’s workforce, expanding the parks’ educational mission, improving the stewardship of resources, and making the agency relevant to today.

About the latter, Mr. Jarvis said, “There is deep concern out there that national parks will become irrelevant to a society that is disconnected from nature and history. We need to help all Americans—especially young people—discover a personal connection to their national parks…”

I couldn’t agree more. We surely do need to make sure subsequent generations value, care for and use the national parks.

But there’s another disconnect that worries me even more. That’s the one between our society and Scripture, particularly in younger generations.

The website HowStuffWorks still lists the Bible as the number one best seller of all time, as of 2007. Guess what’s in second place? Chairman Mao’s little red book. Also included in the top twenty-one tomes are the Qur’an, The Book of Mormon, The Da Vinci Code, the Harry Potter books, an Agatha Christie title and, bizarrely, The Mark of Zorro!

Many of these tomes are worthwhile reads. I enjoy a Christie mystery, and I watched Zorro on television as a young child (my mother used a lot of Old English on the Zs my brothers and I would carve on the furniture!). And there is certainly nothing wrong with familiarizing yourself with other religions and philosophies.

But the prevailing attitude I catch in today’s society is that all these other books are somehow more relevant than the Bible.

But what could be more timeless than a love letter? For that is what the Word of God is, the story of the One who not only created us, but continually reaches out to draw us closer. The chronicles of real people He includes battle problems as common today as they were long ago: fear (Jehoshaphat, 2 Chronicles 20), uncertainty (Gideon, Judges 6), sexual temptation (David, 2 Samuel 11 and 12), the search for wisdom (Solomon, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes), and injustice (Joseph, Genesis 37-50), to mention just a few. And they are backed up by historical facts and records, not easily dismissed as “cleverly devised tales,” as some down through the ages would have us believe.

The great writer and Christian apologetic G. K. Chesterton, in his book What’s Wrong with the World (published in 1910—see, even back then people despaired of humanity!), wrote, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried” (p. 48).

And that’s the disconnect in a nutshell: it’s much easier to give a mere tip of the hat to God’s stipulations on how we are to live, than to invest the time and discipline to follow them; less demanding and much more comfortable to cobble together our own system of shifting truth and values, than to abide by someone else’s unchangeable truth, no matter who He claims He is. Especially when the world doesn’t encourage you to do so.

We can’t fully appreciate and enjoy the parks unless we spend time in them, exploring their paths and learning their history. Only then can we understand their enduring relevancy.

The same is true of our relationship with God. If there’s one thing I’d like to impress upon every teen and young adult, it’s this: Scripture has stood the test of time. It’s the only path to a personal connection that’s guaranteed to last into eternity.

I’ve tried it, and I’ve never found it wanting.

Comments (0) Dec 02 2009

August 24, 2009

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Proverbs 3:27

Kurt Repanshek, writing for the travel site frommers.com, offers a glimpse into how the money allotted to the National Park Service through the federal economic stimulus program is being spent. Some improvements will be visible to visitors—the repaving in Acadia, and new restrooms and road repairs at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, for example—while other work will be more behind the scenes, such as the upgrade to Yellowstone’s park headquarters’ heating system.

“All told across the National Park System there are nearly 800 projects that are being financed through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,” Kurt reports. “True, the $750 million earmarked for this work pales in comparison to the roughly $8 billion-$9 billion maintenance backlog that confronts the National Park Service, but it’s a step in the right direction.”

When I read this article last week, I thought of a recent conversation I had with my friend Shari.  She was recalling the time several years ago when her family had been going through a rough patch financially, specifically a day at the supermarket when her young daughter desperately wanted Oreos. “Sorry babe, we can’t afford it,” she had to tell her, which just about broke Shari’s heart.

But when they arrived back home, they discovered several bags of groceries had been left on their front steps. And right on top of one of them was a package of Oreos. Her daughter was so excited that she danced on the front lawn.

Shari still doesn’t know who left the food, but she is sure of one thing: it was God who prompted the donor to include a specific brand of chocolate sandwich cookies, just for her little girl.

Whether that anonymous giver was a Christian is uncertain. But Scripture is clear that good deeds, while not the basis for faith, are a natural extension of it: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

As far as those good deeds go, the book of Titus encourages us to be an example of, zealous for, and careful to engage in them (2:7,14; 3:8). Galatians 6:10 tells us to do good to all when we have the opportunity, especially toward our fellow believers. And Matthew 6:3 and 4 remind us that our acts perhaps are best done in secret.

If we Christians took these admonitions seriously, I wonder how our communities and churches would be transformed.

Let’s give it a try. Let’s “consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).

Because somebody nearby really needs an Oreo today.

Comments (3) Aug 24 2009

May 28, 2009

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4

Perhaps you’ve heard about the credit card reform legislation recently passed by Congress and signed by President Obama. One thing you may not have heard about is the provision inserted into the bill that will allow national park visitors to carry loaded and concealed weapons.

I’m certainly not going to get into politics here, but just mention the two sides of the matter. The measure’s sponsor, Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, believes it’s less about guns themselves than it is states’ rights, since people who are otherwise authorized under state law to have firearms would be entitled to have them in national parks and wildlife refuges unless a state law prohibited it, according to The New York Times.

One the other hand, not only are gun-control advocates opposed to the provision, so are many park groups, says national parks expert Kurt Repanshek. They’re concerned that the increased presence of weapons will not only compromise the public’s safety, but possibly lead to more poaching, and make a park ranger’s  job more dangerous.

This hot-button issue won’t be going away any time soon. It’s a dangerous world out there sometimes, and we all have to decide how best to protect ourselves physically. The same is true in the spiritual realm. “Be self controlled and alert,” the apostle Peter advises. “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Thank God we don’t have to come up with the weapons for that fight ourselves! He graciously and abundantly supplies everything we need—truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation—to win the war with temptation, hardship, sorrow, pain and everything else the world throws at us, so we can stand our ground (from Ephesians 6:10-18).

How to get those weapons? If you’re not sure, start with prayer—even one as simple as, “Lord, show me”—then find out what He has to say by reading His word, the Bible. The New Testament books of John and Romans are good places to begin.

I’d also like to hear from you. What do you do to “put on the armor” for this daily battle?

Comments (3) May 28 2009