Over the river.
Through the woods. We had the
morning and afternoon off, so after a few hours my body was getting
restless. I needed to do something. Since I’m officially old now-25 years-I
decided to go for a walk. Being
surrounded by fellow World Racers 24 hours out of the day, minus bathroom and
shower time, hasn’t caused me to crave alone time yet, but when those brief
slivers of freedom do come about I cherish them. I popped my iPod into my ears, turned on Kim
Walker, slipped on my sandals at the doorstep-remember it’s Asia-and began my
stroll.
It’s ironic how the calmness and tranquility of dirt roads,
local farms, and trees shake what I know to be reality. How can it be that when we seem to have
nothing, it’s so clear that we have more than before? Lost in thought I almost missed the “Jungle
Bar” sign at the crossroads. Curious, I
entered the restaurant. Surrounded by
bush, alongside a river, and without any other building in site stood a jungle
retreat. Behind the bar reclined a man
smoking a cigarette and drinking the local brew. I introduced myself to the man who was also
the owner, an Australian named Jeff. He
showed me around his personal bungalow, explained how the business came about,
and shared with me his vision. It was
lovely. All of it. The smell of fresh cut lumber, the straw
thatch roof, the extensive menu, the vision, and the lifestyle. All of it, lovely. We said our goodbyes including half-hearted
conditions to see each other again.
I was returning on the same road when it didn’t seem right
to listen to music anymore. I shut it
off. Suddenly I felt the urge to stop
walking. I stopped. Was God speaking to me? Heck if I know, but as I continued walking
again, perspective collided with my reality.
Is life’s ultimate pursuit a jungle bar?
Maybe, who am I to say, but I’m hoping my dirt path through life leads
to something more. 
We are told in Scripture, “What does the Lord require of you
but to pursue justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before your God.” My generation has put such a heavy emphasis
on “calling” and “purpose” that the simplicities of life have become muddled
with complexities of God that we’ve stumbled upon and over. It seems common practice now to pursue God as
if He leaves hints and clues scattered throughout conversations and pages of
texts that will direct our steps on the one path designed for our feet.
I don’t know much. I
don’t know how to build a jungle retreat in Thailand. I don’t know anything about Jeff’s past. I don’t know what the theme of this blog even
is, but I do know that the dirt path I walked on that day was wide, clear, and even
though it didn’t have an end in sight, it was saturated with God’s
presence. That’s where I want to be
every day. Pursuing justice. Loving mercy.
Walking humbly.
Does that sound too simplistic and ideolistic? The opening line to my next blog is, “I’ve spent the first 24 years of my life
becoming a realist, yet I’ve been learning over the last four months that God
is an idealist.”
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PS: I’m going to test out a function on this blog site, so hopefully you won’t get another blog for couple days, but if it doesn’t go according to my plan you’ll have two on your plate. Sorry.
