D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
December 2009
The Trail of Love
Four Rs for zest and zeal.
By Michelle Detterick
As a 21st century cell phone-toting, Facebook-connected, community-involved, well-educated long-time Grant County resident, I was surprised by the appearance of my high-school classmate. Recognizing his voice took me back to days of running track and taking on the hurdles. I wondered where he had walked in the 40-year interim since those days. A spark of recognition came to his eyes and he spoke with softness in his voice, which I learned came from regret for a life lived in a selfish, reckless abandonment to the 1960s philosophy of some folks, "If it feels good, do it." And he had taken that philosophy to the extreme, as was so easily seen in his bent posture, sallow skin and very ill body.
What could I possibly do for him now? It is not in our power to turn back the hands of life's clock, but I could reach out with a warm, welcoming handshake and show him kindness as he struggled to regain his footing in this world. Our brief conversation caught him up on the high points of my life — the school, marriage, jobs, kids and grandkids data. His parting "God bless you" and my response of "He does, He has, and He will" brought a big smile to his face, a hug, and the realization that my old friend had joined me on the trail of love.
My friend had a very short time and left only a few footprints on this trail of love; whereas my pursuit continues as it is my quest for life. The trail of love flows through us from the heart of God, for we believe God is love and we are known as belonging to Him through the love we show. If my friend were still here, I would share with him the rest of my story of the past 40 years and principles that I've adopted to keep my footing firm on the trail of love. In tribute to my friend, I share with you those ways that I have found keep me in good spiritual health for success in my journey of living a life of love. Consider adopting them for yourself.
Often when I answer a question or write concerning a spiritual activity like this one, I end up primarily "preaching to the choir." Most often it's the choir of one singing in my shower — ME! In other words, I haven't arrived, but I need to remember and regroup in the areas that I speak or write about. With that in mind
I call my idea of keeping or restoring good spiritual health the "Four R's for Zest and Zeal on the Trail of Love": REFRESH, RELAX, REST and RELATIONSHIP.
REFRESH yourself with songs, hymns and spiritual songs making melody in your heart to the Lord. Fill your environment with uplifting music that helps you stay healthy. Need to get moving? Big Band music will not let my feet not tap and when that happens, the body is soon to follow. Need to relax? Some classical or instrumental music filling the airwaves of my home does soothe me and calm me down. It's a musical back rub for me.
Hymns for me are songs that we've learned at church and include those in a hymnal, on a screen, or someone's new song. Consider the REFRESHMENT received from the following list:
"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" reminds me of God's strength and whom to head to when I get in hot water. That's deep watering refreshment to me!
"Glorify Thy Name" sets my day on the right path.
"Day by Day" reminds me that every day belongs to the Lord and we walk through them with Him.
That's the short list! One of the best investments I have made is a hymnal; I keep it alongside my Bible and any devotional book or journal I'm using. I'm sure you have your own list of favorite songs, sacred or secular, that have special spiritual meaning to you.
Spiritual songs are the melodies that come from my heart in praise to God. They could be referred to as a praise break with an upbeat tempo. They refresh me and they are also an indicator of my spiritual pulse: I'm doing GREAT when they are happening and I don't even notice them; GOOD when I notice them frequently throughout my day, because it's after I've been off "the straight and narrow" and returned that I notice my heart is singing; if there is no song in the heart I am really OFF ROAD AND OUT OF IT — enough said!
Remember, not all of us can carry a tune but we can all make a joyful noise to the Lord.
I RELAX by playing. (I told you whom I was preaching to!) Take a hike. Go fly a kite. Plant something or repot a scraggily plant of any type. Have fun. Play with your kitty or dog. Play a game or work a crossword. Write into your 24-hour pie some relaxing downtime. Some of us relax in a hammock and others by shooting hoops. Though the means may vary, we all need to relax daily. This, like the other Rs for spiritual health, has to be consumed daily. Like certain vitamins, it is not stored by our bodies.
REST comes in different time blocks and shapes. It may be 10 minutes in an easy chair or porch swing. It may look like five minutes longer in a hot bath.
It may be a weekend retreat or afternoon of quiet. For me, it's Jesus speaking: "Come away with me and rest," or Matthew 11:28: "Come to Me, all you who labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." I rest by spending extra time sitting in His Presence, breathing deeply of His love, to get a new perspective of my cares, concerns or worries. A period of rest puts my woes in His hands rather than my clinched fists. Then they are right where they should be and God will take care of the problems and me.
What's your idea of rest? Ever think about a weekly sabbatical, a day set aside for rest? How would a real Sabbath be beneficial for you? What would it look like? Shouldn't it be more than the hour or two spent in meditation or church? I evaluate activities for my typical day of rest by thinking if it helps or hinders my traversing of the trail of love. To traverse the trail of love is to live according to the principles given by the Source of love.
RELATIONSHIPS are vital to our spiritual, physical, emotional, mental and every other kind of health. Stop for a minute and just think about the last 24 hours you have lived. How much of it was given to beginning, building or maintaining positive relationships with friends and family that you love and that help you maintain balance and sure footing on the trail of love? You may need to divide your 24-hour pie differently. Mine is constantly under revision!
As Barbara Jenkins put it, "Friends remind us we are part of something greater than ourselves, a larger world, and the right friends keep us on track."
Plan now how to take the steps you need to take to be in relationships that promote good spiritual health. And they ain't bad for the body or mind, either!
Refresh. Relax. Rest. Relationships. You may just find yourself smiling more, feeling more connected with friends and family, experiencing gratitude in waves rather than dribbles, and more content in all circumstances.
Author Michelle Detterick writes that she "is passionate about life, love, and learning. Tagged by friends as un puente, a bridge in our community, she delights in helping others find the trail of love, improve their lot in life, and continue to grow and learn. She enjoys her work from the corner office of Literacy Link-Leamos. Her ideal day of rest includes a time of worship at First United Methodist Church with her husband Bob and then a trek to the Gila forest, wilderness or river, depending upon the season. They have enjoyed living for the past 30-plus years in the perfect place to retireSilver City."