Lessons of the Dunes

White Sands National Park is only one of the many reasons New Mexico is known as "The Land of Enchantment." White Sands is part of the Tularosa Basin and is 275 square miles of nothing but white sand. The sand dunes there are "living dunes" because the strong southwest winds continually blow, shifting the dunes from place to place. The dunes are constantly being pulled forward; sometimes in ripples, sometimes in domes, sometimes in hollows, but always moving, always advancing. Standing in the middle of 275 square miles of white sand is an experience that takes your breath away. Sand skims over the surface of the dunes changing their shapes. Walking across the sand leaves a trail of footprints that are immediately swept away; as if one was never there. Standing on the dunes watching the wind blow millions of grains of sand across the landscape makes the phrase “sands of time” very, very real and George Bernard Shaw’s words, “Write your sad times in sand; write your good times in stone” literally came to life.

The hour I spent walking the dunes was refreshing; not because the sand exfoliated my skin, but because there was so much to contemplate. I had the opportunity to think about life; about how change is certain; and like the sand, I will be pulled forward and reshaped because of my experiences. The landscape at White Sands is a journey. The dunes will always change and will never return to what they once were. The dunes are on a journey; always moving but without a known destination. Life, like the dunes, is a journey. Henry Miller wrote; “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” Christians are called to look at life with fresh eyes; eyes that are not blinded by the sands of life. I may not always know where I’m going, but God is always pulling me forward.

The wind is constant at White Sands. It is the life force of the dunes. As the winds blow and shift the dunes, the landscape that once was is forgotten. Standing there while the wind blew the sands, I thought about the importance of forgiveness; of letting go and moving forward. I thought about how true forgiveness releases us from what we once were and allows us to be reshaped. To say that the climate of White Sands is harsh is an understatement. There is no fresh water on the dunes. Plant and animal life has adapted over time and both have found a way to survive. Our relationships are much like the animal and plant life of White Sands; they evolve over time and we adapt in order to fully experience relationships with others. As I wandered the dunes, I thought about how God never promised that life would be without its deserts but if we are open and adaptable we always change and always move to a different place in our relationship with Him.

The lessons of the dunes were simple; I am different because of my experiences; life is a journey, forgiveness is important and my relationship with God and others evolve over time. Four simple lessons that are worthy of experiencing over and over again.

Copyright©2011 Judith Bell

Lent

Every community has them. The south side. The east side. The hood. The other side of the tracks. They are typically lower income, higher crime areas marked by vacant or burnt houses that have been taken over by weeds, trash, vandals and vagrants. Abandoned and condemned houses and shells of houses are unsightly eyesores and are often referred to as blighted areas; neighborhoods that are in destruction and ruin. Unless there is a reason, most folks don’t venture into those areas. I’ve been in and out of a blighted neighborhood off and on over the past couple of weeks. It is a short cut to a piece of property we are looking at for some new programming. One day as I passed through I found myself asking; “Why doesn’t the city do something to clean this up?” It was a rhetorical question. I know the answer. I’ve sat in city council meetings when the razing of houses has been discussed. The answer is simple; bulldoze the thing and move on to the next. It’s the process that is complicated. Owners have to be identified, notices served, etc., etc., etc. The desire to clean and beautify is there, but the process is the cog in the wheel.

Next week we’ll observe Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season and the 40 days before Easter. There is no better time to change something than during Lent. Historically viewed as a time of fasting or sacrifice, Lent is a time of self denial and it isn’t uncommon in the days before Ash Wednesday to hear people ask one another; “What are you giving up for Lent?” While that is a fair question and fasting and self denial are admirable practices, I’m not sure that “What are you giving up for Lent?” is question we should be asking. Just as the razing of a ruined house is a long drawn out process, the process of transforming the spirit also takes time. Lent gives us 40 days to answer the following questions:

• Who I am in Christ?
• What am I willing to do in order to live a transformed life?
• What can I do to prepare myself for the Resurrection?

Lent is more than a liturgical season. Lent is the opportunity to beautify who we are in Christ. It is a time when we can remove the cog in our spiritual transformation. Lent is a time that we can, with spiritual determination, raze the blight that keeps us from fully living in Christ and in doing so, prepare to live in Resurrection that we know is coming.

Copyright © 2011 Judith Bell

Name Brand

There is just something about a name. I’ve always been Judith or when in trouble, Judith Ann. I’ve never been a Judy. My mother was absolutely adamant about that and she immediately corrected anyone who happened to call me Judy. Judith was not my mom’s first choice of names. In fact, my mom didn’t name me; my dad did and the ink was already dry on the birth certificate by the time she knew what was going on. The name “Judith” is of Hebrew origin and means “from Judea; Jewish.” In the Apocrypha, Judith is a heroine, who after beheading the commander of the Assyrian army incited the Hebrew army to victory. I’ve never incited an army, but I’m sure that I’ve incited a thing or two during my life, so I guess the name fits.

Names are important. Name recognition is important. Just ask any marketing or public relations guru. Name brands aren’t called name brands for nothing. I’m not a pure purchaser of name brands because I usually buy store and off-name products to help reduce grocery and household living expenses. However, there are some things that have to be name brand. There is absolutely no way that Great Value or Food Club peanut butter tastes better than Jiff. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese beats the others hands down. And let’s face it; Diet Dr. Pepper can’t be replaced by Diet Dr. Thunder. Other must-have name brands include Campbell’s Tomato Soup, Wheat Thins, Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing, Nestle Quick, Hunt’s Ketchup, Velveeta, Crystal Light Drink Mix, Charmin Tissue, Puffs with Lotion, Blue Bell Ice Cream and Jell-O Instant Pudding.

Moses had a name brand experience at the burning bush. The infamous question Moses asked God was about a name; “…suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them? God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM’ (also translated as I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE). This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:13-14)

God, being God and making sure that He has made His point goes on to say, “God also said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites, The LORD, the God of your fathers – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob – has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.” (Exodus 3:13-14)

My name is mine. I like it. It fits my personality; but doesn’t belong only to me. There are others that share the name, Judith. However, God’s name is like no other name. The words of David are as true today as they were years ago; “LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:1).

God is God and there is no generic replacement for what or who He is. There are times when He is Abba, Lord, Master, Advocate, Comforter, Counselor, Teacher, Servant, Savior, King of Kings, Deliverer, Creator, Father, Redeemer, Prince of Peace, King of Kings, Immanuel, Jehovah, Alpha and Omega.

God is a name brand God; you know what you are getting with Him. He is who He is. Blessed are we that He will always be what we need Him to be. Praise be to God.

Copyright © 2011 Judith Bell