Seeking Truth

So I've been thinking about truth lately. In this election season, every side is so convinced that they're right. Good Christian people, completely convinced that their party is the only right choice for the future of the country. And although I admire their conviction.. I'm left wondering who's right?

I find that as I've gotten older, what I want is a place to go and look up something to see if it's true. A reliable source. You know as children, we ask our parents--because they know everything. And though I've learned that my mother knows a lot about a lot of things--she doesn't know everything, and sometimes her views seem as biased as everyone elses.

Anyone who follows Christ would say--look at the Bible. But even then--there are so many different views. So many ways to interpret. So many different versions os what people think the text means--that I'm baffled there too.

I'm left wondering--where do you go? As I've grown spiritually, I've realized that the journey is important and truly seeking God-- the process, the mulling things about to figure it out for yourself--that's what you need to focus on. But if it's simply about figuring it out for myself, about how I see things--won't that give me a relativist look at things--just "my truth".

What about absolute truth? I believe it exists--but how do I find it? About the issues of life...

The more I've wrestled with this question--the more frustrated I've become. But it occured to me recently that the truth is, we can't know everything. We really can't. And I don't know is the answer to a lot of life's questions, whether we've thought about them or not--that doesn't mean we shouldn't think about them.

But I think, for a while, I'm going to try and focus on things that I know are true and see where that leads me. Because otherwise, I'm left feeling a bit unsettled with so many unknowns.

Lost close to home

So I have a few friends that worry about me when I travel. Apparently they don't have any faith in my sense of direction and are afraid that I will wander off a cliff or something.

Well, I hate to prove these people right, but I had a ridiculous experience this morning. (No cliffs, involved, don't panic) I was having breakfast with a friend--not ten minutes from my house. As I left, I started to head back toward home, to head to work from there--but I realized that I was closer to work where I was, so I took a left in the direction of work.

I was pretty confident that I was going in the right direction--seeing city buses that were headed to the bus station that is 2 blocks from our office was reassuring. But as I looked at the streets go by, they started going down.. lower than the number I was looking for.. 66, 65, 64. So I turned around...and went down two blocks to the next street that wasn't one way in the wrong direction, only to find that it didn't go through, but stopped only one block over.. so I had to go around the block again...and nothing looks familliar at this point.

Meanwhile, this was supposed to save me time, and it's been more than 30 minutes since I left my friend. I head in the opposite direction, see a familiar intersection, head in what I thought was the correct direction.. and then end up where I had been twenty minutes before hand! It was so frustrating, because I knew the right road was there. The signs led me there--but then I couldn't find it.

I ended up following a familiar road a few miles in tne wrong direction, toward home, where it suddenly got familiar, and I was able to find my way to work.

But it occurs to me that I do this with my life too. I go in what I am convinced is the right direction...and I still get lost.

Still Looking

So I'm thinking the pilgrimage really never ends, does it? I mean, if we're looking to encounter God--shouldn't we look for him everywhere?

And yet, we do have to work. We have to work to put food on the table and clothes on our backs, etc. So a working pilgrimage is a good way to look at doing life.

So I'll chronicle what I can of the journey. From all I know to be true of God--it should be an amazing ride.

Treasures

So, just because we can catch glimpses of God on our travels, doesn't mean we have to stop looking for him once we reach home.

For instance, when you sit at the wedding seeing your best friend from seventh grade walk down the aisle. It's a crazy feeling, knowing that she's that girl you giggled till all hours of the morning with, possibly over this very day, then, far in the future-- but she's also this completely grown woman, who's making a commitment to a man you know so little about--but because she loves him, you love him too.

And she looks completely beautiful, and different and the same...and I know I'm contradicting myself but it's all true. I felt so very proud of her. We haven't been in touch nearly enough over the years, but I was so glad to share her special day.

It's funny to think about childhood friends, though. We all impact each other's lives in so many ways, but no one quite like our chlidhood friends. This friend, Kate is her name--she always accepted me for exactly who I was...and was unfailingly generous and giving. I think its possible that she is still an example in my head of what a friend should be.

And now this post is making me miss her...and the girls we once were. But it's also funny to think, that those girls have had a host of experiences since then, and have turned into some incredible women who can take the treasures of childhood and love others the same way.

Home again

So what does a pilgrim do when she reaches the end of her journey? Did I accomplish my goal? A pilgrim is one who goes to encounter God. Did I meet God?

I saw His love in the house of my friends Mandy and Adrian.
I saw His beauty in the petals of roses.
I experienced His majesty on top of Thor's Cave.
I saw His love of variety in the faces that passed me.
I felt His peace even in the midst of a huge city.
I encountered His faithfulness throughout the ages in the quiet halls of an Abbey.
I heard His voice in the wisdom of friends met at a gathering of His people.
I saw His steadiness in the even, green fields of the countryside.

So God was with me on my journey, even as you all have followed me through this blog. Even you show me an aspect of God--who knows my troubles and triumphs and is there in the midst of them.

I still have to reflect on the wedding.. and possibly the late greats I found in Westminster Abbey--so stay tuned.

It's just like riding a bike

So I've heard this phrase in connection with everything--meaning, you never forget once you learn something. People use it in reference to dating, to taking care of kids, to playing games. The only thing is, riding a bike isn't always that easy.

So in Holland-it's really really flat. So people bike all over the place. So the conference center where we were staying had a bunch of bikes that you can sign out and go riding. But if you haven't been on a bike for years (like me) and aren't careful about finding a bike that's short enough for you (like me) you end up falling down a lot (like me). I tended to land on hedges--those being the most effective at breaking a fall.

It was incredibly graceful falling, of course. This was especially true toward the end of the first day of riding when I managed to reach the ground and stop the bike, only to have my leg give out because it was tired, landing me in a heap beside the road under the bike. And of course, my gracefulness was caused by extra traffic on the pathway, which of course, meant that I had an audience.

But I got the hang of it finally--and by the last day, I was crusing around on a bike that fit, and remembering how to brake and everything. Almost made me want to go and buy a bike--but then I remembered that there are hills at home.

I'm back in the good ol' US. I'll post my reflections on watching an old friend get married in a day or so, as well as the sweetness of seeing my parents after weeks abroad. But for now, I'm off to explore Solvang--a cool little town that my mother has visited and has told me about, but which I have never seen.

I fly home this evening, I'll be home tomorrow morning.

And they all came together

Holland has been lovely so far--meeting amazing people, and reconnecting with others (including, very happily, Mandy and Adrian). We took a bike ride yesterday (longer than expected) but we did stop and tour a windmill, which was lots of fun. It's beautiful and flat around here. I'm not sure if I'll actually get to see Amsterdam proper--but we're supposed to go somewhere to see those wooden shoes made later this week.

I've heard of the adventures and struggles of a few at my home church while I've been here and my heart goes to them--I wish I was there to give a hug, but my prayers are being lifted up even from over the ocean.

Till next time.