Life Lessons from the National Parks

September 6, 2010

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:1,2

Hard to believe, but the ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks is this week.

The Pentagon Memorial is completed, and work at the World Trade Center is ongoing. At the only site tied to the terrorist attacks of 2001 administered by the National Park Service (NPS), the Flight 93 National Memorial, the first phase of construction is underway (and a temporary visitor center recently opened). Michelle Obama and former First Lady Laura Bush will be the keynote speakers at anniversary observances there Saturday.

The NPS website details the future components of the memorial, which is described as “a common field one day, a field of honor forever:”

–the Tower of Voices, 40 large wind chimes to evoke the sound of the wind and the 40 voices of the passengers and crew aboard the plane during its final moments;

–the Field of Honor, the circular heart of the park;

–the Entry Portal to the field, approached through a clearing of 40 red and sugar maple trees marking the plane’s flight path;

–the Sacred Ground, where Flight 93 crashed, able to be viewed by the public but accessible only to family members of the passengers and crew.

As visitors approach the Sacred Ground, they will have to go across ponds, an area called a “healing landscape,” since the water will be full of aquatic life. I like the idea of incorporating the concept of healing into the design.

And isn’t that we all crave, solace for our pain and grief? We search for it in good ways—at memorials and graveyards, through journaling, prayer and therapy—but also in unhealthy behaviors, like overeating, denial and unforgiveness. The thing is, each one of them, good or bad, is only temporary.

I certainly hope visitors and especially surviving family members and friends affected by the September 11 attacks find a measure of comfort at the memorials, especially on this anniversary weekend.  But my prayer is that all of us look first to God the Healer (Exodus 15:26) who alone can fulfill His promise to completely do away with our tears and mourning (Revelation 21:4).

Oh, what a great day that will be!

It will be worth it all
When we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small
When we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face
All sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race
‘Til we see Christ.
–When We See Christ (Esther Kerr Rusthoi)

Comments (3) Sep 07 2010

February 22, 2010

And he [an angel] carried me [John] away in the Spirit…and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper… And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones…And the material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. Revelation 21:9-12, 14, 18-20

The other day I read a National Geographic Adventure article about Yosemite National Park. The “must-do” hike it listed was to Vernal Fall, reached by trekking 1.5 miles up the Mist Trail, then climbing a steep granite stairway of over 600 steps.

I thought, I remember that trail! Joe and I were at Yosemite 25 years ago (!), and yet I vividly recall traipsing up those stairs, slick with the spray from the fall and filled with people coming and going.

Our final destination that June day in 1985 wasn’t the 317-foot fall, though, lovely as the plume is. We had to climb a bit higher to find what we’d really come for: Emerald Pool.

Now you must realize that green is my favorite color, emerald my jewel of choice. And this small lake is far and away the most wonderful shade I’ve ever seen. Its color comes from the algae on the rocks at the bottom of the water, and in the brilliant sunlight, Emerald Pool nearly took my breath away. That’s why I remember the hike so well: the sight of that sparkling water more than made up for the strenuous, crowded hike.

When I read the description of heaven in the final pages of Revelation, I can hardly take in how utterly gorgeous it will be. Not only will my preferred color by on full display, but also a host of other precious stones, the exact composition and color of some of them unknown to us. They will flash with startling luster along with the golden streets and the crystal clear river of life (Revelation 22:1), next to the perfect, milky pearls that make up the city gates (Revelation 21:21). And their radiance won’t come from the sun or the moon, but from God’s glory, seen at last in all its fullness (21:23, 22:5).

Weary traveler, keep your eyes on the end of the trail! We’ve got steep steps yet to climb, treacherous places to navigate and difficult situations to deal with, but at the end, all will be forgotten when we look into the shining face of the One who has already prepared it for us (Matthew 25:34, John 14:2).

“And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.” Revelation 22:17

Comments (2) Feb 25 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

December 14, 2009

Endure hardship like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:3

Weather historians agree that the winter of 1779-80 was the worst of the 18th century in New Jersey. And that was very unfortunate for the Continental Army encamped around Morristown.

The location was a good one. It was ideally situated a two days’ march from the British base in New York City, and the nearby Watchung Mountains and Great Swamp provided natural defenses. Roads connecting New England and the revolutionary capital at Philadelphia were easily guarded. The water supply was ample, and trees for fuel and construction abundant. Local homes could be used as quarters for generals and staff officers.

Anticipating a long stay in the area, General Washington ordered log huts built to house the enlisted men. Eight infantry brigades—over 10,000 soldiers—felled more than 600 acres of oak, walnut and chestnut to build 1,000-1,200 crude shelters. The bitter weather, however, impeded the work. For almost all of December, the army slept under tents or with no covering at all. Many of them were not under roofs until February.

In addition to not having proper shelter, the soldiers suffered from a lack of food and clothing during that cold, snowy winter. As a private bitterly noted, “The monster hunger still attended us. Here was the army starved and naked and there their country sitting still and expecting the army to do notable things.”

The story of those long-ago soldiers and their extraordinary fortitude is told at Morristown National Historical Park. And perhaps it’s fitting that it’s our country’s first national historical park, because as the park handbook notes:

The encampment of the Continental Army at Morristown, New Jersey, sums up much of the Revolutionary War. [It] was a war more of waiting than of battles and fighting. For the patriots, perhaps this was just as well, because they tended to lose the battles. But waiting imposed its own trials on patience and the ability of the infant United States and its weak economy to sustain an army in the field. In a contest of patience and endurance, Great Britain might have retained her American empire simply by persisting longer in the struggle than the often-impatient patriots. Morristown tested the emotional and physical resources on which depended the Continental Army and ultimately the American cause.

Where would we as a country be if those brave men—who did indeed go on to do “notable things”—had not stayed true to the cause? In the midst of terrible conditions, they waited out the greatest nation in the world. They endured, even though they undoubtedly wondered if the struggle was really worth it. We know now that it was.

Perhaps in this season of life, two hundred and thirty years later, you find yourself in the midst of your own icy spiritual, physical or emotional chill, undergoing deprivation and hardship, not at all certain how it’s going to turn out. Take a lesson from these long-ago soldiers—but more importantly, look to the Baby whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.  Nearly two thousand years ago, Jesus did what George Washington could never do—He offered Himself as the sacrifice for all our sin, sorrow and sickness (Isaiah 53:4, 5). And He left behind His Holy Spirit to give us strength for each battle we fight along the way (John 14:16-18, 26, 27).

And the ending? We know that, too! It promises to be brighter than any Independence Day fireworks display and more beautiful than a pristine winter snowfall—with no more death or mourning or crying or pain to mar the picture any longer (Revelation 21 and 22).

In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter
Long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him,
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak midwinter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty
Jesus Christ.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a Wise Man,
I would do my part,–
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.

–Christina Rossetti

Comments (2) Dec 15 2009

April 22, 2009

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you…
1 Peter 1:3, 4

This is National Park Week, and the Park Service has scheduled lots of special activities for adults and especially for kids. This Saturday, April 25, is Junior Ranger Day, when over 225 National Park sites in nearly every state will sponsor youth-oriented programs. Scavenger hunts, craft demonstrations, puppet shows, artillery displays and nature hikes are just some of the things planned—and most are free! There’s even an essay contest with a chance to win a $1,000 gift card! Junior Rangers can earn badges, pins and certificates after completing age-appropriate park-related projects at their own pace, not only on this special day but all year round.

The reason so many National Park Week events are geared toward children can be summed up in one word: legacy. If kids are exposed to the great treasure of our national parks, historic sites, battlefields, military and historic parks, monuments, scenic rivers and trails, lakeshores, seashores and recreation areas, chances are they’ll learn to appreciate their great value and will work to preserve them when they inherit their care.

When I think of the word legacy in my own life, I think of a highly valued letter I have tucked away in my scrapbook, from a woman I never met. The correspondence wasn’t addressed to me, but it concerns me nevertheless:

To my Dear Sons – Stanley, Eugene, Ralph, Jim and Al: Please grant me
[this] last request: To raise all my grandchildren Christians and early lead
to the Saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ – as Daddy and I tried
valiantly to do with you…

Dear Alice, Fern, Marjorie, Miriam (and whomever Al chooses for his future
wife): Guide my grandchildren to Christ Jesus for Salvation, redemption and
release. God has entrusted you with a sacred charge…

I can’t begin to tell you how special it is to me that on that long ago day in July, 1943, as she lay dying in a hospital bed in Madison, Wisconsin, my Grandma Enelia’s thoughts centered not only on the loved ones she was leaving behind, but on those yet to come, me included. Al was my father; his future wife, my mother Amy. I have very little besides this letter to remind me of my paternal grandmother—a few columns she wrote for a local paper and some photos—but it’s more than enough. What she left to me, my brothers and my cousins wasn’t about her, it was about her Lord.

Saving and caring for our national parks is important. We have a responsibility to pass on that respect and appreciation of and responsibility for God’s creation. But I never want to lose sight of the fact that there’s something way more valuable to leave with the people I know now and ones in the future whom I may never meet. If I fail to encourage them to seek the new birth, the living hope, the eternal inheritance that can’t perish, spoil or fade, then everything else I bequeath is worthless. When I’m standing by the most beautiful park this world has ever known, beside the tree of life and the crystal clear river of the water of life (Revelation 22:1, 2), I want my friends and family at my side.

Take your kids or grandkids to a park this week if you can. But first, get down on your knees and take them to the Lord.

Comments (1) Apr 22 2009