Strength for the Journey, part 2

Part 2

There's a song in the Worship & Song book (3113) that was introduced at the beginning of the retreat: "A Wilderness Wandering People". What a perfect song for the theme, the time, the retreat. It wasn't planned, it just happened. When the music leader opened the worship book, that's where it opened. Serendipity. 

The lyrics are below. I invite you to read through them and reflect on them. What word, words, or phrases stand out to you? Hold those as you listen to the song in the link below the lyrics.  

A Wilderness Wandering People      
Jim Strathdee
© 1996 Desert Flower Music
 
1. We are a wilderness wandering people on a journey of the soul.  

May we find our destination in our longing to be whole. 

Our Holy God is calling to us. 

With Jesus by our side  may compassion be 

our compass; may the Spirit be our guide.
 
2. May we cherish all our children, let us heal our family’s pain. 

Help us cure our city’s madness, let love and justice reign. 

Reconciled with one another in prayer and praise and song, we’re the body of Christ together and we know that we belong, we belong, we belong, we belong.

As I read the lyrics, here is what stands out to me:

• a journey of the soul
• longing to be whole
• compassion
• guide
• cherish
• heal
• let love and justice reign
• reconciled
• together
• we belong

What this time apart reflecting on the wilderness has meant to me is a little bit hard to explain, but I will attempt it. 

I came into a community knowing very few people. About a handful of staff, if that. I knew some names of others from conference, but didn't know them well. Others I didn't know at all. Then there are the campers. I didn't know a single one.

There was a sense of belonging from the get-go, a sense of acceptance, connectedness, love, and grace. I have experienced acceptance and grace in community before. I have written about it. The Emmaus Community has been a major community of acceptance and grace for me since 1998. Yet, this week has been different.  These people didn't know me, they received me, accepted me, and allowed me into their lives. 

It has been life giving to 

• worship together
• do crafts together,
• listen to people's stories
• enjoy campfire time together
• laugh together
• share meals together
• fellowship together
• etc. 

I would venture to say that this week has been life-changing for me. It has allowed me to use the gifts and graces that the Creator has given me and to receive the gifts and graces from others.

The weather has offered thunderstorms, rain, and breezes. The beauty of the changing weather, the view of the mountain, the mountain laurel, the roses, and other blooms has sunk into my soul. I didn't know how much I needed the nature therapy.

Do you want to learn more about Strength for the Journey? 

Here's a link to an article written by Buzz Trexler from May of 2025 that offers great insight into the retreat:

Holston's HIV/AIDS ministry draws 'campers' from 5 states

This week is giving me strength for the journey.

Peace, 

Rev. Deb

Outdoor Time

Yesterday I was able to get in some outdoor time at Big Soddy Creek Gulf. It's a "go-to" place for me. It isn't too far away and it has all the required parts: water, woods, rocks, waterfall. It was a gorgeous afternoon and I was able to enjoy the scenery while getting some exercise. It was fun to see the wildflowers popping up in their colors. The creek was full and flowing, as was the waterfall. It is always good for my body, soul, and mind to get outdoor time. Yesterday was no exception. The nature therapy was perfect. Being outdoors in creation is a spiritual practice for me. Within that one spiritual practice, I get to practice several others: silence, solitude, contemplative photography. I am able to breathe in and out deeply, allowing the fresh air to fill my lungs. The beauty of creation was a gift. I am grateful to have experienced it.

As I walked back, I jotted down the things I had seen. Here is the list:

• Shade
• Sun
• Rocks
• Woods
• Water
• Roar
• Trickle
• Buds
• Blooms
• Silence
• Solitude
• Peace for the soul
• Blue skies
• Warmth
• Yellow
• White
• Purple
• Butterfly
• 74 degrees Fahrenheit
• Trout lily
• Phlox
• Toothwort
• Trillium
• Redbud
• Waterfall
• People
• Dogs
• Kids
• Bikes
• Breeze
• Fishermen
• Trout
• Hammocks
• Bridge
• Brick

The water I heard and saw was both loud and soft. There was the roaring of the creek and waterfall and the trickle of water coming down over some rocks. 

It was the first time I ever saw fishermen with fish-- a string of trout, up to the limit, I'm sure. 

The path was active, yet still quiet. It was definitely a great time of silence and solitude, peace for the soul. 

Here are pics from the hike. Enjoy the scenery:

Prior to going into the woods, I had seen a "meme" on Facebook. It read: 

"Nature doesn't care about your pace; it just cares that you're there. The squirrels won't judge your outfit and the trees are always happy to see you."  I am glad that my tie-dye shirt wasn't judged by the squirrels. 

It was definitely good to get some fresh air on a beautiful day before the rain rolls in.

Peace, 

Deb

Holiday hiking at Big Soddy Creek Gulf

                                      

Yesterday we experienced some temperatures in the 50s (Fahrenheit), so I took advantage of that and spent some time in the woods. Since yesterday was the 4th day of Christmas, I guess you could say it was "holiday hiking". More appropriately, it was "holy hiking". Hiking is a holy thing for me, as it allows me time with the Creator.

I went to Big Soddy Creek Gulf, a "go-to" for me. Though I didn't take Cliff (our dog) with me this time, I had promised him I would take him for a walk, so I got home in time to take him for a short walk before sunset at the Greenway Farms.

Due to the recent cold weather, there was still plenty of ice in the creek and on the rocks. It was great to see the icicles and the frozen water in the creek. Even portions of the waterfall were frozen.

I crossed the creek and went left for a while, going to the coke oven on the right. Then I turned around and went back and kept going past the creek crossing up the hill. I haven't been up that way in ages-- since we hiked down it from another location. I knew from that hike and from a friend's recent post that there were waterfalls and swimming holes along the creek. I wanted to see some of those yesterday.

I hiked up and found a good spot that I could get to, where the trail went to the left on up the hill. It was a gorgeous spot and would be great in the spring and summer too. Evidently this has been a spot for many over the years because a carving on a tree was dated "1954" and the path wasn't hard to find.

I noticed a flat and circular rock and picked it up. Upon inspection, I saw a heart indention on it. :) That was cool. 

There were people out hiking, walking, running, and fishing, but it wasn't too crowded. There were people by themselves, in family groups, as couples, with their dogs, and with kids in strollers.

Well, it was crowded enough that I needed to park in the overflow parking when I arrived, but there was still plenty of parking there.

It was a pleasant time in the woods, in nature, in creation. Listening to the water, seeing the ice, seeing decorations on a tree (well there were 4 decorations in all). Sitting on rocks, looking up at the clear blue sky, and enjoying the fresh air. 

It is always good for my heart, mind, body, and soul to spend time in and among the trees, near water, walking or hiking. It is nature therapy, creation therapy for me. It is a spiritual practice for me. I didn't take my hammock this trip, but there are some great hammock places to hang out. That can be for another day.

If you are so inclined to enjoy the outdoors, I hope you will get out there somehow, someway and do it! If you're not able to for whatever reason, I offer my photos below to get outdoors via photography.

May your journey be adventurous, 

Rev. Deb

Here are my photos from yesterday's adventure at Big Soddy Creek Gulf: