Think About Such Things | What to do with the Time That is Given Us?

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.

 “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” 

This conversation between a hobbit and a wizard in the first book of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of my favorites. It gives me hope. If you’re not familiar with the books (or film versions), their world, Middle Earth, is in dire danger from a power-hungry ruler. Mighty warriors from various kingdoms and races (humans, elves, dwarves, etc.) fight to save it. But Middle Earth’s greatest hope lies in the hands of an unlikely hero: a hobbit. 

Hobbits are the smallest of all the human-ish races in Middle Earth. Their land, the Shire, has enjoyed prosperity and peace for so long that they have no warriors anymore. They would rather tend their gardens and relax with friends in the local pub than go on an adventure or volunteer for a mission. But Frodo, inspired by his uncle Bilbo’s adventures and filled with the desire to save his beloved Shire, volunteers to do the impossible. He will take the dark lord’s magic ring to the heart of the dark lord’s land and destroy it. 

The journey over the three books nearly destroys Frodo, both physically and mentally. How does he survive it? I can think of seven key advantages that helped him: 

1. Encouraging friends. Most notably, his best friend and fellow hobbit Sam, who cheers him on and is possibly one of the most positive people in literary history. Sam has such great hope in the future that toward the end of their difficult journey to Mount Doom, Frodo discovers that Sam has saved rations of food for the return journey. Frodo is in shock, because he didn’t think they’d survive after their mission was complete. This jolt of hope gives Frodo the strength he needed to carry on. Sam isn’t the only one, though. Earlier in the story, the rest of their companions (called “the Fellowship”) each in turn encouraged and challenged Frodo along the way. Some of the Fellowship were powerful people (a wizard, two human warriors, a dwarf, and an elf), but I love that 4 of the 9 of them were friend hobbits from back home! Merry and Pippin could not be dissuaded from going with Frodo and Sam, because they cared about their friend. 

2. Focusing on the beauty and joy of the world he was trying to save. This is also often thanks to Sam, who pointed out flowers in the midst of a devastated forest. Frodo also delighted in experiencing the beauty of the land and culture of the elves in his travels.  

3. Group efforts. There are so many examples of this in the story, but even at the end, when it’s just Frodo and Sam trying to reach Mount Doom to destroy the ring, the rest of their Fellowship friends stage a battle elsewhere to draw out the enemies so Frodo and Sam can continue unhindered. 

4. Seeing the best in people. Sam never liked Gollum, the creature who had possessed the ring previously and became consumed with it. He predicted (correctly) that Gollum would betray them. Yet Frodo gives Gollum much grace, thanks to a conversation with Gandalf about pity and compassion earlier in the story. Frodo trusted Gandalf’s instinct that Gollum would have an integral part to play in their mission. Spoiler alert: he did, pretty spectacularly! 

5. A champion/hero/mentor. Frodo had some amazing people backing him, including Aragorn, the future king of Gondor. People have drawn parallels to Jesus regarding Aragorn, and while he doesn’t have divine power like Jesus does, he fought valiantly for Frodo’s sake. Gandalf the wizard also fought on Frodo’s behalf. Both Gandalf and Aragorn acted as mentors for Frodo in the first part of his journey, and he relied on their wisdom and philosophy of life in the rest of it. 

6. Sanctuary. Along the way and after the war, Frodo encountered places of rest, safety, and healing. These included Rivendell and Lothlorien, magical places of beauty with the Elves, as well as the Houses of Healing in Gondor after the main war. After a final battle back home in the Shire, Frodo rests there and writes down his whole story. I believe this was not just to preserve it as a history, but also to process the trauma he has been through. Finally, he goes on one last journey: to Valinor, the Blessed Realm or Undying Lands where the immortal elves go to live forever. 

7. Help from above. When Frodo and Sam have destroyed the ring, they are stranded on the erupting Mount Doom. There is a literary trope called Deus ex Machina (God in a machine) that was used in ancient Greek theatre to save the day at the last minute. It gets used frequently in fantasy literature and is panned as a bit of a cop-out. It’s been argued that the Great Eagles function in this role when they appear just in time to rescue Frodo and Sam from being swallowed up by lava. Also, fans of the books argue over whether or not the eagles could/should have just carried Frodo all the way in the first place. But I think Tolkien was telling us something about how God works (see below). 

How can we apply these concepts to our lives in our modern world? I would love to hear your ideas. Here are mine for each of the items above:

1. Invest in friendships and communities that are supportive. The group that was entrusted to support Frodo’s mission was called a “Fellowship.” Churches and other places of community can provide that fellowship to encourage us. If you don’t have strong ties to one yet, please consider investing in one. Fellowships aren’t perfect; they’re made up of imperfect people. But a healthy one can work out its differences and faults together. Regarding personal friends, I’ve discovered that keeping friendships strong takes a lot more intention and action than it did when we were kids and saw our friends at school every day.. Take the time to strengthen your friendships. Send a “Hey, how are you” text or postcard. Invite a friend out for coffee or a hike. Call a long-distance friend just to chat while you wash dishes. It’s too easy in this busy world to neglect this important part of your life. Find little ways to grow friendships. 

2. Notice and/or document the beauty and blessings in your life and world. Take photos of nature on a sunny day. Stop and smell the roses. Write a sentence or short list in a gratitude journal on a regular basis. Create art. Reflect on the ways that you see God working in your life or in the world. 

3. Work with others on something that makes a difference in your community or the world. Collective efforts can make great changes where we can’t do much on our own. Find an organization that does something you believe in and contribute, or invite a group of friends to help you with a project. 

4. Assume best intent. I learned that catchphrase at a diversity training once, and I still need to work on applying it to my life. The trainer taught us strategies to use when we are offended. First, assume people are not trying to harm you. Try to see from their perspective, even if we don’t agree with it. But if they have harmed us or someone else, we can say “Ouch” and gently let them know how their words hurt, even if they didn’t mean to. We can and should have healthy boundaries in place. 

5. Fix our eyes on Jesus. We have a champion, and He has overcome the world! He is our Rock, our firm foundation. He has won the war, not with might but with love. He has overcome evil with good. When you’re scared or anxious, look to Him. (Telling this to myself at least. Please feel free to throw these words back at me when I’m fretting!) And God’s Holy Spirit is our counselor, guide, and mentor. We can pray for wisdom anytime. 

6. Find places/moments of rest, peace, and debriefing. Soak in God’s presence during musical worship in the sanctuary of your church. Go for a walk in the woods. Attend therapy. Journal your experiences, good and bad, to process them. Spend time reading and reflecting somewhere sacred (once in a while, I spend an afternoon in the Retreat Center building at the Mount Angel Abbey). Visit mountains. And know that this world is not perfect, but someday we will be at perfect peace with God in Heaven. 

7. Look to the sky. Not literally (it’s just atmosphere and outer space), but pray to the God of Heaven for miracles. We may not get rescued by giant eagles at the last minute, but we will be in God’s hands no matter what happens. His timing and plans are perfect and He has reasons for why He does things the way He does. Chris and I were talking the other day, and we think sometimes God lets us wait or partner with Him while we walk through difficulties instead of making things easy, so we’ll come to a point of complete dependence on Him. That’s why we think Tolkien had the eagles wait until the end to help. (Please remind me of that when I get anxious about finding a house before the house we’re renting gets sold!) Trust that He will work for our good and the good of the world. He is omniscient and all-powerful, and best of all, He loves us. He knows the story of the world and has it all under control. 

When we feel like the weight of this world is too much, or too scary, let’s think of what Gildor the elf told Frodo: “Courage is found in unlikely places.” He could tell that hobbits had a hidden strength in them. Let us encourage each other by the power of the Holy Spirit in us. 

Thanks for going on this journey with me! Verses that inspired my thoughts on this (NIV): 

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. 

Romans 8:31
What then, shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 

Romans 8: 37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither life nor death, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

I also credit some of my inspiration from the book “Finding God in the Lord of the Rings” by Jim Ware and Kurt Bruner. 

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About the Author

Jessie is a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a blog about travel and the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her sweet husband, Chris, their 5 funny kids, and 1 fluffy cat in Springfield. She loves hiking and other outdoor and indoor adventures with her family.

Who Is Our Rock? | Finding a Firm Foundation

Gardening metaphors are great. Poker metaphors are plentiful. But I love the earth sciences, so my life metaphors usually involve rocks or volcanoes, and occasionally tornadoes. I love that Jesus told the parable of the house built on a rock vs. a house built on sand! 

Jesus didn’t pull that idea out of thin air, though. He knew the Scriptures, which at that time were just the Old Testament. Several Psalms point out that God is our rock, including Psalms 18 and 40. I’ve been singing them and other songs lately to feel more grounded.

Another one, Psalm 46, doesn’t explicitly say God is our rock. Instead, it lists several end-of-the-world worst-case scenarios, yet reminds us that God is still in control. I don’t know about you, but I need this right now! Reading the news, I am terrified. But these verses reassure me. I’ll include the actual Psalm at the end of this post, but here is a short song I know from the church I grew up in: 

God is our refuge and strength; He is our helper in trouble (repeat)
We will not fear, though the earth give way, and the mountains fall to the sea
We will not fear, though the nations roar and war continues to be

I love that this song/Psalm includes natural catastrophes as well as human atrocities. No power in the world is bigger than God. I also love the idea that He is our refuge. In addition to God being our rock, Psalm 18 also uses the metaphor of Him being a fortress. This recalls some of the castles and fortresses I saw while living and traveling overseas. Some were built in the low land or cities. But many were built on solid hills. The highest one I saw (and hiked up to) was the Red Fort/City (Shahr-e-Zohak) near Bamiyan, Afghanistan. This fortress was high and strong enough to defeat the hordes of Ghengis Khan’s grandson. Having a firm foundation on a huge solid rock can make a difference. 

Our current world of politicians, policies, programs and others usually mean well. But they can be shifting sands: strong enough to walk on for a bit, like hiking at the coastal dunes. But that is exhausting, and the path can be confusing. I don’t want to be on those dunes if a tsunami or storm hits. I hope to stand high on basalt, that dark strong stuff made by volcanoes. My rock is Jesus, my fortress, my refuge. 

Psalm 46:1-7
God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
Though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 
God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts His voice, the earth melts. 
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

Psalm 18: 1-3, 19, 30-33
1-3: I love you, Lord, my strength. 
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 
My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 

19: I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. 
He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me. 

30-33: As for God, His way is perfect: the Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him. 
For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? 
It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights.

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About the Author

Jessie is a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a blog about travel and the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her sweet husband, Chris, their 5 funny kids, and 1 fluffy cat in Springfield. She loves hiking and other outdoor and indoor adventures with her family.

Like a Child | Childlike Wonder

Jesus obviously valued the attitude, humility, and perspective of children, shown when He said “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” But why? 

Aside from the Sunday-School-answer of us needing to humbly acknowledge our childlike dependency on His saving grace in order to be forgiven and made pure, I think there is more. In order to appreciate Heaven (and not just the after-death aspect of it, but also being part of the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth), I think we need to see the world with child-like wonder. 

Think about the first time you saw something that blew your mind when you were a kid. For me, that was probably Smith Rock State Park. I went to it with my family as a tween, and my jaw dropped at the grandeur. Over the course of my life, I’ve been lucky and privileged enough to see some amazing sights, including one of the actual Wonders of the World, Chichén Itzá. At times I’ve gotten to a point of being desensitized to them. Oh, look, another pretty mountain. Ho, hum. I’ve seen it happen in others, too. Several years ago, I drove my friend’s kids to their home in Montana after visiting their grandparents here in Oregon, and we took the scenic route. We hiked through the Painted Hills and stopped to see the Wallowa Mountains. But the kids weren’t impressed. They knew they had bigger, more epic scenes at home in Montana. They’d lost some of their childlike wonder. Note: I can’t blame them too much. After getting them home, my friend took us all to Glacier National Park there in Montana. It has been my favorite national park ever since then, and no scenery has topped it for me.

Currently, I’m blessed with the opportunity to show my family wonders they’ve never seen. Chris had seen many amazing sights around the USA when he was young, but for some reason missed most of them in and around Oregon. The kids had only seen a few neat places on day trips with aunts and uncles that have since moved out of the state. So I get to play tour guide, experiencing the wonder of places I’ve been before with fresh eyes while I see them light up as they take in the beauty and scale of a scene or landmark. And I remember what it means to enjoy a place as they run around and play. Why stand there and look at a redwood when you can climb around on its giant trunk and roots? 

When I was younger, I lived for giant mountains, cascading waterfalls, or rocky landscapes smelling of sagebrush. I was disappointed if a vista or landmark didn’t meet my expectations. As I’ve traveled more and more, I have become more intentional about finding the beauty in everything. On my last big road trip, I drove through several states visiting friends and relatives. This included Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Southwestern states. After leaving Denver, I expected to be bored and sad that the mountains were behind me. Instead, I gazed at the wide horizon as I drove through endless green cornfields in Kansas, interrupted by the “Cathedral of the Plains” (a beautiful church in the middle of nowhere). I then reveled in century-old art deco architecture in Tulsa, Oklahoma before my friend there took me kayaking on a reservoir surrounded by every color of green tree. Texas had fascinating finds, too, but I’m running out of room to write. I haven’t even begun to discuss how interesting people are all over the world. But I think you get my point. 

The beautiful world of scenery and humanity is only the beginning. Someday, we will soak in the grandeur of Heaven and God Himself. Until then, let’s practice seeing the world we’re in now with childlike wonder.

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About the Author

Jessie is a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a blog about travel and the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her sweet husband, Chris, their 5 funny kids, and 1 fluffy cat in Springfield. She loves hiking and other outdoor and indoor adventures with her family.

Who Does God Say I Am | Victorious

If anyone feels like they need more humility in their life, they can try parenting. It’s sure worked for me so far! I thought I had a leg up on this parenting thing, having worked in schools for 19 years and taken college and graduate level classes in the psychology of child development. A huge part of my identity has always been “I’m good at working with kids.”

But now? I mess up all the time. I lose my patience. I raise my voice (usually only in response to a kid yelling, but still, I try to teach them that two wrongs don’t make a right, so I’d like to keep my own voice calm). I judge/assume what a kid is going to tell me instead of listening fully. I’m the opposite of God: quick to anger and abounding in sarcasm. One silver lining, so far, of being stuck at home during an ice storm instead of moving into our new house is having time for things like writing this blog post and video chatting with my Welsh friend in New Zealand. She says what I just described is completely normal. I feel a little better that it’s universal, but still! I’m afraid that I’m an evil stepmom more often than I’m a gentle, empathetic mother.

Everyone at church is very kind and encouraging. I know it’s quite an adjustment gaining 5 kids all at once, and I appreciate deeply that everyone asks how it’s going and assures me that I’m doing fine.* And I know I will get there. I’m reading parenting books (finally just finished “Boundaries with Kids” and am a few chapters into another) and learning the hard way. I’ll have it figured out by the time the last kid graduates! Just kidding. But hopefully I really will grow in the things I need, which are pretty much the Fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control).

How can I grow in these areas? Only by the grace of God who helps me and gives me strength. I need to ask Him for strength and the Fruits of the Spirit regularly. My problem is that I’m so busy and distracted with 5 sweet but noisy kids that I forget to spend time with God in prayer and in the Word. I try to read the prayers in Stormie Omartian’s “The Power of a Praying Parent” book on my Kindle, but I forget to open it. Lately, I’ve had a little more time for praying on my way to work, after I drop kids off at middle school. It’s about the only quiet time I have.

And this led me to an idea: check out helpful books on CD from the library. Somewhere I own a pretty hardcover copy of Brené Brown’s book “Atlas of the Heart” (although I can’t find it, even when packing up my books to move last week). But recently I found the CD of it at the library and started listening to it in my car. I only got through one disc before I turned it in last week so it wouldn’t get lost in the move, but already it has been helpful for me to understand my emotions, which I believe will help me with parenting. At least once or twice a day on my commute, I can take some time to focus on these things, which helps remind me to pray and lean into God for my needs.

Another thing that has helped is friends who have stepped in as “mentor parents.” When I was in grad school, my student teaching experience came with a mentor teacher, whose class I took over. The mentor teacher gave me guidance, then let me do things on my own, then gave me more guidance. It’s a bit different with parenting, but some of you at church have let Chris and me call you and describe our situations, circumstances, and struggles, and then you gave us guidance. Whatever you call it (God designed us for community, it takes a village, etc.), I am grateful that I live in a local community and culture that doesn’t think we parents have to go it alone. I believe that one of the ways that God helps us is by giving us other people to speak into each other’s lives and encourage us. This is seen clearly in the Bible by friendships, mentorships, and other relationships in both the Old and New Testaments.

On my own, I can do nothing. But with God’s help, through resources and the people He places in our lives, we can do anything he’s called us to do. Even parenting 5 kids. I think. I hope. Keep praying for me.😊

*Note: I’ve been reflecting lately on how what I say at church affects the kids. Often someone will ask me how parenting is going, and one of the kids (usually the oldest) is sitting nearby as I describe my struggles. I’ve been a part of CitySalt for several years now and have grown accustomed to being very transparent about whatever I’m going through. But I don’t want to give my kids a complex and make them feel like a burden. Recently we had a family movie night and watched the Guillermo del Toro version of Pinocchio. It was fantastic! And opened a door for me to talk about this with a couple of the kids. I won’t spoil the movie for you by telling you how this plays out in it, but it solidified my thoughts on this matter. For this reason, I’m planning to be a little less transparent on Sunday nights at church. I will try to say “Things are going fine.” But I’d love to meet up for coffee or have a phone call from my bedroom where I can tell more and ask for prayer. I am grateful to you all for caring so much about me and my family.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.

Isaiah 41:13
“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

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About the Author

Jessie is a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a blog about travel and the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her sweet husband, Chris, their 5 funny kids, and 1 fluffy cat in Springfield. She loves hiking and other outdoor and indoor adventures with her family.

Joyous Lament | The Journey of Grief

I’d never given the process of lamenting a lot of thought until it was taught to me at a debriefing retreat. It was during a sad time in my life. While we were all at various places around the world for Christmas break, my American coworker-friends and I got word that our school in Afghanistan was closing, and we couldn’t go there. We’d just lost a lot: our jobs, our homes, our friends, our students, our belongings, and our adopted country. We were heartbroken. 

Some of us were already visiting family in the States. Others (like me) were visiting relatives in other countries for the holiday. I made my way back to the USA/Oregon for a couple weeks, with no idea of what to do next. The school network we worked for paid for us to attend a debriefing retreat in the northeast corner of the U.S. Thus most of us found our way from the corners of the world to a small lodge in snowy, rural Pennsylvania. 

Honestly, we really didn’t pay much attention to the things the director of the debriefing program was trying to teach us. Our motivation was to be together in our grief. To see each other one more time before our lives all went separate ways. And to celebrate some things together, like the couples in our group who were getting married (we went ahead and held the bridal shower we would have had in Kabul for four of my friends if we’d stayed longer). But a couple things she taught us stuck out to me. Namely, how to lament. 

It’s been several years, so I don’t have my notes anymore from that lesson or the lament that I wrote. I know it had four or five parts to it. Searching on the internet recently, I discovered that a lament can have anywhere from four to seven parts to it. The consensus seems to be at least these four: 

1. Addressing God/Turning to God: a reversal of our tendency to retreat from Him in our pain

2. Complaint: talking candidly to God about what is wrong (with the world, with our own life, etc.)

3. Ask/Request: a prayer for deliverance, healing, or other need

4. Trust/Praise: a vow to trust Him, and/or declaring His faithfulness or other attributes (sometimes these are separate, with the declaration of trust coming before the request, and then praise for Him at the end). 

Many Psalms follow this structure or a variation of it (the parts aren’t always in the same order), but Psalms 4 and 5 are easy ones to see it in. 

I love the book of Lamentations and the lamenting Psalms because of all of this. God is powerful. God is holy. God is pure. But He condescends (in the old-fashioned sense of the word, not the haughty/judgy modern use of it) to listen to us complain. Even when we’re as whiny as a two-year-old. In my experience, as long as we aren’t disrespectful in our complaints, He considers them, no matter how angry and whiny they sound. Why? Because He loves us. Psalm 5 puts it this way: (verse 7) “But I, by Your great love, can come into Your house…” We can come into God’s own space and share our hearts with Him. He welcomes it. 

Currently in my life, I have some small things to grieve. But mostly I find myself lamenting the state of the world, especially in places like Afghanistan. It breaks my heart. But when I pause from reading the news and turn to Him, talk to Him candidly about what I find wrong with the world, declare my trust in Him, ask Him to heal/deliver/etc., and praise Him for who He is, then my heart heals a little. Hopefully the world does, too. And there is joy in that. 

The debriefing retreat was probably the last time that almost all of us were together, although in the summer many of us flew to the weddings that we’d held the group bridal shower for. The retreat was a time of grief. Of lamenting, communally and privately. But also of great joy. We ended the week with laughter (reminiscing about the crazy times, confessing to our security manager all the safety rules we’d broken in Kabul, etc.). This was a great release. We were still heartbroken, but that week started the healing process in us. During the months and years that followed, we were able to help many of our former students get into boarding schools around the world so they could continue their studies. This brought us joy, because our work of helping kids could continue in a way. And we were grateful for that answer to one of the petitions in our lament. 

I pray that we all find joy and peace in this process.  

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About the Author

Jessie is a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a blog about travel and the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her sweet husband, Chris, their 5 funny kids, and 1 fluffy cat in Springfield. She loves hiking and other outdoor and indoor adventures with her family.

The Joy of Being Human | Feasting and Fellowship

What is your favorite food? Favorite restaurant? Favorite memory of a special meal? What makes it special? 

We humans aren’t the only animals on the planet to love food. But the way we enjoy it is something that I believe is a uniquely human experience. 

Of course, we don’t just gather/kill our food and start eating it. Aside from fruits and some veggies, it usually needs to be cooked, after all. But we don’t stop there. We marinate it, season it with spices, and layer it with other combinations of foods to bring out the best flavors. 

We savor it. 

But although that may separate us from most animals, the experience doesn’t stop there. We like to eat in community. Sure, many animals eat together, too. But when I was growing up, I don’t think our cat Molly ever said to the other cats, “Hey, Zorro! Angel! Abby Tabby! Our humans just filled our bowl! Come and eat with me so I don’t have to eat alone.” No, they all came and ate when they could because they were hungry and didn’t want to miss out. Whereas we humans will often wait for each person to get their food before we dive in. We invite each other over for dinner, go out to fun restaurants, pig out at special events and holidays, pass the popcorn back and forth during a movie, and eat s’mores around a campfire.  

Why do we do this? 

Because there’s something special about eating together. It bonds us together for some reason. Maybe it’s the conversation. Maybe it’s sharing the experience of delicious food, or a special time or place (like a holiday or wedding). Maybe it’s because as our belly is filled, so is our soul. 

Whatever the explanation, Jesus seemed to know that community is formed around food. When thousands gathered to listen to him speak, He didn’t just fulfill their physical need for nourishment. They experienced a miracle together. I imagine that in the days of the early church, some believers would say to each other things like “Hey, were you there the day Jesus fed all of us from some kid’s lunch?” “Yeah, that was amazing! God can do anything!” And this would bond them together even more. 

The night before His death, He shared a meal with His disciples. He poured out His heart to them, saying “This is my body, broken for you,” and “This is my blood, poured out for you.” They caught a glimpse of how much He loved them. In the days of the early church after His resurrection and ascension, they made this experience a tradition. The new believers and disciples would bond regularly over remembering His sacrifice. They would share His love with each other and nourish their souls. 

We still do this today, over 2,000 years later. We take communion in church. We feast with potlucks before or after church. And we get together for meals (or ice cream!) during the week. 

We form community. Relationships. Bonds that are strengthened over time, or break our hearts when they’re broken. We experience His love through each other. 

Amen! Now let’s eat!

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About the Author

Jessie is a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a blog about travel and the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her sweet husband, Chris, their 5 funny kids, and 1 fluffy cat in Springfield. She loves hiking and other outdoor and indoor adventures with her family.

In His Image | Artist to Artist

Do you feel like a creative person? Did you know that everyone is creative? Yes, it’s true! I didn’t used to believe it, but I do now. And it even honors God when we exercise our creativity! Hear me out. 

I’ve written about this idea before here in the Salt Blog, but it’s been four years, so I’m excited to revisit it and unpack it some more. In her book The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, Julia Cameron taught me a spiritual principle that changed the way I see the world. It’s not a Christian book per se, but she does quote the Bible in it, and I don’t think she’s wrong in this regard. 

Points 4 and 5 of her ten “Basic Principles” sum it up like this: 

4. We are, ourselves, creations. And we, in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves. 
5. Creativity is God’s gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God. 

As I read her book, I realized that if God created us, then He must be creative. Just look at His amazing artistry all around the world! There are thousands of waterfalls in the world, and no two of them look exactly alike. There are billions of people in the world, but all so different and beautiful! Even twins have differences that display His creativity. 

And if God created us in His image like the Bible says (see Genesis 1:27), then chances are, He made us creative, too. Sure, He didn’t make us exactly like Him. We are not omnipotent, omniscient, etc. But as I look at the amazing things people do, I think it’s true that He gave us the gift of creativity. There are so many different ways that people are creative! Paintings, sculptures, delicious food, wood crafts, novels, teacher lesson plans, photography, movies, toys, Powerpoint presentations, Lego creations, decorating, scrapbook pages, technological inventions… the list goes on. One time I took my students to a Welding & Fabrication Expo at Lane Community College, and a student there had made the most beautiful guitar out of metal by welding it in fanciful designs. I had no idea that was possible! They let the high school students try their hand at welding, and I had to tear the kids away from it when the bus came to take us back. One of them made a simple jewelry box. It wasn’t fancy, but he was so proud of it, and I believe he could already see the untapped possibilities of his own future art. 

Julia Cameron says “Those who speak in spiritual terms routinely refer to God as the creator but seldom see creator as the literal term for artist. I am suggesting you take the term creator quite literally. You are seeking to forge a creative alliance, artist-to-artist with the Great Creator.” Being creative is something we can do with God! 

Many of us have creative dreams. Some of them we’ve made public, some we keep secret, and some are so hidden within us that we don’t even admit them to ourselves. Or if we do admit them to ourselves, we don’t give ourselves permission to work on them. We convince ourselves that the mundane work of everyday life is more important. While it is important, and can even help us unlock our creativity (for example, I write more freely when my house is clean because I’m not distracted by the dirt and clutter), practicing our creativity is just as important. And beneficial to our soul. Why? Because when we practice being creative, we can grow closer to our Creator. 

Why do we grow closer to God when we practice being creative? Points 3 and 7 of Cameron’s Basic Principles help us understand this: 

3. When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the creator’s creativity within us and our lives. 
7. When we open ourselves to exploring our creativity, we open ourselves to God: good orderly direction. 

This sounds amazing to me. When we slow down our lives long enough to think about experiencing God more and becoming more like Him, how often do we think of practicing creativity as a way to do that? Of course, if we think the talent is from ourselves because we’re something “special,” we’ll miss the point. Our creativity is a gift from the only all-powerful, most Holy, amazingly creative God. But if we keep this in perspective, we may just experience more of Him when we allow ourselves to explore this gift. 

In what ways do you practice creativity? In what ways would you like to practice creativity more? What is your experience of God when you do this? 

Genesis 1:27 NIV
So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.

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About the Author

Jessie is a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a blog about travel and the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her sweet husband, Chris, their 5 funny kids, and 1 fluffy cat in Springfield. She loves hiking and other outdoor and indoor adventures with her family.

Trusting Our Mysterious God | The Wonder of It All

Isaiah 55:6-9 (NIV)
Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign that will endure forever.” 

In the chaos of the world we live in, it is difficult for me to trust God’s sovereignty. Global and local news breaks my heart. How could God let these devastating things happen? It’s even more confusing to me when He answers my little prayers for personal needs, so unimportant compared to what I read in the news. Why is He so good to me sometimes when A) I don’t deserve it, and B) the world seems to be falling apart? 

I don’t know. I know what I’ve been taught: that the world is broken because of sin. God gives us free will instead of making us all robots (and we’re human and make mistakes), so bad things happen ranging from malicious actions to lazy neglect and even miscommunication with good intentions. I’ve experienced or been guilty of many of them. But He has mercy on us, thanks to His love and the sacrifice of His Son. Why did He do that? It makes me think of an old praise chorus that I learned in my youth: 

Oh, the wonder of it all
That Love should die for me
Oh, the wonder of it all
That He gave His life for me

Into the darkness precious life has come
Into a broken and weary world
God gave His only Son

Oh, the wonder of it all
Amazing love
(repeat a few times)

To me, this Good News is a mystery. I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand how or why He loves us so much to sacrifice this way, or why He lets events in the world unfold the way they do. His thoughts and ways are beyond me. But I’m grateful for that because of what it means for us when we turn to Him. He gives us hope and a future, pictured poetically in the Isaiah passage with joyful mountains and junipers in place of thorn bushes. 

My job is not to understand the whole mystery of God. It is to seek Him and call on Him, turn away from my unrighteous thoughts and toward Him. And to thank Him when He does answer my little prayers, because they are signs to me to help me trust Him. Best of all, they help me know His amazing love.

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About the Author

Jessie is a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a blog about travel and the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her sweet husband, Chris, their 5 funny kids, and 1 fluffy cat in Springfield. She loves hiking and other outdoor and indoor adventures with her family.

Fruits of the Spirit | Kindness

Kindness has become a trendy buzzword lately. Kids see it in school rules: “Be kind, Be safe, Be responsible…” We see it on signs in people’s lawns. I recently discovered that there are even “kindness” clubs and committees in our communities, when a kindness club marched by in the Springfield Christmas parade. I think most people would agree that “kindness” is something to aspire to, something that helps our world in general, from the local to global levels. 

So why is it so hard to do? Why does our world still not get along? Why are there so many teen suicides because of bullying and other unkind acts? 

The answer is complex. Obviously, acts of aggression are a different ballgame than unkind words due to immature communication. But watching my new children interact, I think one likely cause is not knowing how to deal with anger. We get a hint of how anger and kindness are connected in the book of Ephesians:

Ephesians 4:25-27, 29 - 5:2 (NIV)
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin” [quoting Psalm 4:4]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 

To me, this passage speaks of a combination of healthy boundaries and love. Because God loves us and creates in us love for others, we are motivated to be kind. But we also need to have boundaries. Boundaries to protect us so we can speak truthfully to others about what we need and let them know when they’ve hurt us. We can use this skill when we’re angry and hurt to make the situation better instead of lashing out to cause more hurt. 

We can see this easily in children because they’re less subtle about it. They get hurt by their sibling/peer/etc. and retaliate instantly, causing escalation. Or if they don’t, they hold onto the anger, which gives “the devil a foothold” by allowing the anger to become bitterness and resentment or even eventually malice. We all do this sometimes but may not even realize it. 

But God provides a different way. He doesn’t say “Don’t be angry.” Instead He says “In your anger do not sin.” We can be honest with each other about our boundaries or what they’ve done to hurt us, but we can do so respectfully and kindly, out of love and compassion for that person. Not only with the intent to not hurt them, and not only to help them learn and grow, but also to maintain the relationship between us. We can help the other person see that we’re communicating our needs/hurts because we value their relationship. We can walk in the way of love, as Christ does for us. 

Today, after writing this post, one of our kids did a great job of demonstrating this principle. She’d misheard something I’d said and her feelings were understandably hurt. It took her a few minutes to tell her dad and I why she was upset, but she articulated it well. I was able to assure her of what I’d really meant, and she forgave me. Later I affirmed her great job of communicating. I’m so grateful that she didn’t lash out or hold on to the hurt, because I love her. 

Kindness. It’s not just a buzzword, but a way to heal our relationships and our world.

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About the Author

Jessie is a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a blog about travel and the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her sweet husband, Chris, their 5 funny kids, and 1 fluffy cat in Springfield. She loves hiking and other outdoor and indoor adventures with her family.

Truth in Love | Charity

The phrase “speak the truth in love” may come from Ephesians 4, but when I reflect on it, I think of a song based on 1 Corinthians chapter 13 instead. This song, Charity, has helped me keep my priorities straight as a teacher for 19 years. Now that I have a family of my own, it is even more necessary for me to remember. Consider these lyrics (and feel free to listen to the original song posted below):

CHARITY *
Although I speak with tongues of men and of angels
And though I prophesy and understand all
Although I have all faith so mountains may be removed
And though I feed the poor and give up my life

If I have not Charity
If Love does not flow from me
I am nothing
Jesus reduce me to Love

Love is patient and kind, love is not envious
Not proud, but gentle and meek, seeks not its own way
Love sings when Jesus prevails, believes and endures all things
Love hopes and bears every wrong
And Love never fails

One season I was a child, I spoke and I thought as a child
But when I turned into a man, such ways put aside
Though now we see through a glass, yet then we shall see face to face
Though now abide faith and hope
The greatest is Love

What do you think of when you hear the word “charity?” Do you think of someone giving money to the poor? That’s part of it, but not what the word originally meant. According to Wikipedia, it came into use in late Old English times as a word meaning “Christian love of one’s fellows” based on the Old French word charité. Going back even farther, it came from the Latin word caritas which was used to translate the Greek word agape (godly love).

This song (and the passage it’s based on) reminds me that regardless of what I do, if I’m not doing it from the motivation of love, it’s not helping. In fact, it can even harm people. When I correct or discipline someone but forget to consider their current emotional needs, it can cause them to feel devalued. I may think I’m helping them, but I’m really not, as teachers and parents have found out the hard way. The same goes for other things, like what we usually think of as charity. I may think I’m helping someone or making a difference in the world by donating money or time, but if it’s not something that will actually help them and done from a heart of love, it’s just self-seeking. A clanging gong to puff myself up or assuage guilt. Speaking (or giving) truth, but not love.

So how do I remember to speak (or give) truth in love? I’m not great at it. But I catch myself sometimes and actually think of the chorus to the song. “If I have not charity, if love does not flow through me, I am nothing; Jesus reduce me to love.” This song-prayer fills me with the agape love that I can’t possibly have on my own because it comes from God. Then I act/react to the person I’m talking to by speaking truth in love.

And truth spoken in love usually leads to better results, and more importantly, better relationships. Because love never fails.

*Kenneth Gulliksen
© 1971 CCCM Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)
Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)

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About the Author

Jessie is a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a blog about travel and the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her sweet husband, Chris, their 5 funny kids, and 1 fluffy cat in Springfield. She loves hiking and other outdoor and indoor adventures with her family.