In the Storms of Life

Where we can find anchor and hope in life

Life is hard. It’s a vast tumultuous sea full of tragedies, trials, death, and defeat. Each and every one of us are weak and incapable captains of small wooden ships with ripped sails. getting tossed within sea, with no power to control the wind and the waves. We are weak. We are incapable. We are helpless. We are tossed within the waves of life, with no ability to calm the storm. Is there any hope?

Yes everyone; there is hope. This hope is better than any fairy tale ending we will ever read in any work of fiction. There is hope, and this hope is not fictional. There is good news. We all have been invited into community with someone who is capable of calming the seas and who, in fact, commands this storm. The wind and the waves obey Him and the earth and everything in it is His. Jesus Christ, the only perfect Son of God has invited us into community with him.

Romans 5:6-8 attests to this good news.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

This is the good news; because of Jesus’ death and resurrection on the cross, we are now invited to be God’s children. We can live in community with him for eternity and call upon him for strength and help. Because of Jesus’ great love for our sinful and fallen race, we now have an anchor within the storms of life. When we accept him as our Savior, our lives are now in his hands. Through the storms and trials of life, we have an anchor. That anchor is Jesus.

The storms of life will not cease when we rely on Jesus as our anchor, but we can now have solid ground to base our lives on and to cling to within the storms of life. Everything works together for the good of God’s perfect plan and we can be assured that because of his great love and sacrifice for us on the cross he will not forsake us.

Romans 8:38 says,

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

As we look through the history of the Bible from the Old Testament to the New Testament, God’s people had their share of trials. In Exodus, Moses and the Isrealites were under heavy affliction as slaves in Egypt,yet God delivered them from the land of their enemies. He delivered them into the promised land, but it took time. In fact, it took forty years of wandering in the desert before the Isrealites came to God’s promised land. Through all of the Isrealites hardships, God never forsook his people and he cared for them and delivered them to the Promised Land.

In the New Testament, when the church was just a small band of followers of Christ, they were faced with heavy adversity and persecution. In very unlikely circumstances, when the early believers were brutally persecuted for their faith in Jesus. The church flourished and spread rapidly because of God’s sovereignty and perfect plan for redemption.

If he was faithful to his people thousands of years ago and throughout all of history, why would he stop now?

Life is a vast tossing ocean with no calm in the storm. We are all small, weak, and incapable captains attempting to sail broken vessel with no power over the storm. I invite you to take part in the assurance that we have Jesus as an anchor in the chaotic storm of life. He is the anchor that holds our boat in place through the storm. Though our boats may stray in the waves, the Anchor will keep us grounded. So together, let’s praise Jesus that we do not have to fear what the future may hold because everything is in his control. No matter what may happen, everything works together for the good of his purpose and plan for redemption, which is perfect.

I don’t know where my path may lead, but all I do know is that I have a wonderful and perfect Savior who knows the plans for my life and those plans are perfect.

Until next time fellow ramblers,

Lindy

Moonlight

a snippet of my work in progress

Quickly rising from her bed Celene shoved on her boots and wrapped a shawl around her shoulders. Resting on the hope her father was in bed once again, Celene slipped out of her bedroom and down the stairs into the kitchen. She carefully packed a small loaf of bread, cheese, and a vessel of water into her basket. Without another thought, Celene squeezed out the back door of the parsonage and into the humid summer night.

Sprinting down the main street of Edgewood towards beggars woods, Celene mulled over her plans on how she would find James’ shack. She racked her brain, trying to remember the vague directions James had given her at their former meeting. Thoughts swirled inside Celene’s head, but her pounding heart was distracting.

On the verge of Beggars’ woods, a streak of moonlight illuminated a tall broad figure starting his way down the overgrown trail. Giving one last exertion of energy, Celene burst forth towards the figure.

“James! James! I’m here! Wait!” she panted in a heavy whisper.

The figure stopped dead in his tracks and turned around. The clouds skidded across the moon, extinguishing the silver light one moment then illuminating the earth in silvery glow the next. As the figure turned, the moon cast an eerie glow upon him, illuminating his blonde hair.

“Celene? Is that you?” he whispered under his breath. “So you did come back.”

The moon quickly slid behind the clouds once again, leaving James oblivious of the assuring smile Celene flashed up at him. As Celene fell silently in pace with James, he discretely wiped the few tears off of his flushed cheeks.

Celene broke the silence, “James, is everything alright?”

He did not answer.

“But… You must go home. Your father turned me away. You must go home.” James whispered to her in return, still shocked.

“My father’s wishes will have to be ignored for the moment. You need help.”

James stopped at Celene’s last words. How did she know? The two faced each other in the moonlight. James not knowing how to respond, only gave Celene a knowing glance in return.

“Now show me to your mother. I will do everything I can to help her.”

Finally, James spoke. “Come with me.”

They started off together through the woods.

“It is a long and dark walk. We take the main trail for a while, until we reach a clearing of birch trees, then we find another footpath back to my house.”

The treetops snuffed out the moonlight, leaving the two strangers in the wood smothered in deep darkness. It was a darkness that could be felt. Celene began to second guess her decision to help James. What if he was not to be trusted? Besides, she hardly knew him.

“This is where we turn off of the path.” James whispered; finally breaking the silence.

“James, are you sure we are in the right place?” Celene’s voice quavered in fear. “I cannot see anything ahead of me.”

Though they had been consumed by the darkness for miles now, she strained her eyes; searching for James.

“Do not worry, I am sure we are in the right place.” James voice sounded far off, echoing through the woods.

At the far off echo of his voice, Celene’ chest tightened. Where was he?

“James? Where are you?” her voice quaked as she began walking blindly forward.

The fingers of the underbrush poked Celene’s back and sent chills up and down her spine. Suddenly, James’ voice could be heard above the rustle of the leaves.

“Celene? Here I am.”

He pushed back branches of underbrush, but Celene still groped in darkness. Suddenly, she felt movement next to her. Without a word, James rough, calloused hand clasped Celene’s. Celene did not pull away. She would relive that moment in her memories for a long time afterwards.

“Do not worry.” He folded his hand tighter around hers’s

He then lead her down the Huntley footpath until they reached a small clearing. Suddenly, the darkness shied away when the two reached a grove of birch trees.

“Here it is.” James motioned his free hand towards the small rundown shack in the middle of the clearing.

Celene could not respond. A meager light glowed from inside the house and broke the seal of the heavy darkness by way of a parchment window. The wooden shingles on the roof were caving in from the weight of branches and debris. Celene’s heart sank in her chest. Something told her that whatever was housed inside the shack would be an unpleasant sight.

Celene reluctantly responded “We better go in then.”

The two walked towards the door of the cabin. James’ thick eyebrows winced as he gave Celene a look of fear, but Celene did not answer.

They stood on the threshold of the door, both silently listening for sounds of life inside, but none came. Celene felt James’ hand began to tremble in hers. He lifted his unclasped hand and unlatched the door.

Finding God in the Unexpected

As a culture, we are constantly searching for something that is greater than ourselves, which we hope will give our empty lives meaning. As Christians, the Holy Spirit has empowered us and changed our hearts, enabling us to see the world and our culture through a redeemed or Christ-like lens. Each and every day we are exposed to a populus that is in need of a savior. Which leads us to the question; are we able to find God’s good news of the gospel hidden beneath the base of our culture, which in whole, is sinful and not seeking Christ? Can we find God in the unexpected?

For this post, let’s use the most relevant example of popular entertainment, books. Books cover such a large range of genres and topics, but I want to talk specifically in the fiction genre. Fictional books cover so many different topics and problems within our culture. A good fictional story cannot have a solid structure and plot without action and conflict. The conflict of a story can range from love, hatred, death,and sacrifice. You name a problem or trial that humans face, and I’m sure it has been written or reflected upon in a work of fiction.

In a story written by human hands, we can see one major theme overarching the plot, a need for meaning, redemption, or hope. The protagonist of a story fights against odds to reach a goal and ultimately redeem themselves from some evil. In some stories this theme may be more prevalent than in other stories, but I can assure you the theme of redemption is hidden in unexpected places.

Let’s use an example from a popular piece of literature (and not to mention one of my favorites.) Bilbo Baggins, from J.R.R Tolkien’s The Hobbit, goes on a quest with 13 dwarves and a wizard to redeem the dwarves’ homeland from a dragon. The dwarves lives have fallen apart because of this tragic event and in order to restore their lives they need redemption. They claim redemption by regaining their homeland from the dragon, Smaug.

This theme of meaning and redemption does not just exist in modern literature. We can see it reflected in literature dating all the way back to one of the first recorded stories on earth.

Mesopotamia and Sumer; the cradle of civilization, the place that was believed to house the garden of Eden, a civilization that dates thousands of years before Christ, even had literature that has a hidden theme of hope and meaning for life at the basis. “Gilgamesh,” which was written in Mesopotamia, was one of the very first stories ever recorded. This ancient myth, written thousands of years before the coming of Jesus, shows that the ancient people desired meaning and redemption for this life too.

The great Mesopotamian warrior, Gilgamesh, goes on a strenuous, life-threatening journey to find a plant which will grant him eternal life. Even in a myth, thousands and thousands of years before Jesus, there is still a theme of craving for eternity.

Thousands of years after the civilizations of Mesopotamia and Sumer, nothing has changed in our literature. There is still an overarching theme of longing for meaning and hope in this life.

As we read through literature and see this theme of yearning for a savior, as Christians, we can have hope and peace that we know the meaning for our lives, that we glorify God and enjoy him forever. This can also be a testament that God’s person is at the foundation of everything, even if we may not acknowledge it. In every story, modern or thousands of years old, God’s true and perfect nature of redemption, eternal love, and sacrifice is hidden.

Romans 1:20

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Let’s get hygge

An introduction to the art of hygge

It’s August. By now, at least where I live, the days are sweltering hot and I am beginning to fantasize about fall and sweater weather, but maybe not winter. Dreaming about winter weather may be a little too extreme. One way that will help me avoid the heat and dream about those days where I can wear sweaters, drink pumpkin spice lattes, and just feel cozy, is the Danish art of hygge.

Curling up in your favorite blanket with a good book, spending an evening with friends, sweet pastries and baked goods, autumnal breezes, winter nights, a cup of your favorite hot beverage in the morning, sweaters, candles, fuzzy hats and scarves, nature, sunsets, and sunrises… the list could go on and on. When the word “hygge” comes to mind, these are the certain things I relate to this Danish word that refers to the tradition of essentially, coziness and a feeling of comfort and happiness.

Like Americans value freedom, so do the Danes value hygge. In Denmark, one of the major parts of their culture is the traditional art of hygge. Hygge, pronounced [hoo-ga], was originated in Denmark and there is much controversy about the translation of the word. Some fear the true meaning of hygge is lost in translation to other languages, but is hygge really just a word? Hygge is more than just a word; it is a feeling of comfort, happiness, safety, and ultimately coziness. In order to really know what hygge is like, you have to experience it in your own way. Whatever cultivates an environment of coziness, safety, happiness, and comfort for you personally, can be hygge.

I was first introduced to hygge when my mom mentioned it in passing to me a few months ago. I was intrigued, so I did some research. After reading many different articles, I began to, what I like to call, “get hygge.” Before I knew it, my bedroom and even my wardrobe for fall and winter was beginning to be influenced by hygge.

Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, Copenhagen, and author of The Little Book of Hygge helps us better grasp this abstract art in a more concrete way, “While hygge can be an intangible and abstract concept, I do believe that we can use all our senses to detect it. Hygge has a taste, a sound, a smell, and a texture- and, hopefully, you will start to see hygge all around.” The five dimensions of hygge that Wiking described helped me better understand hygge and hopefully will help you better familiarize yourself with this danish tradition. Let’s begin to explore the five dimensions of hygge.

The smell of hygge. The smell of hygge is anything that is sweet and comforting to you. Maybe the iconic smell of fresh homemade baked goods, or it could be a smell that is more personal that only you would recognize. For me, a very hygge smell, is the smell of my house, specifically my bedroom, because it triggers my senses of safety and comfort.
The taste of hygge. This one is a very simple and easy one for all of us to relate to. Like fresh homemade baked goods, the taste of hygge is anything that is sweet and comforting.
The sounds of hygge. Hyggelig (hygge like) sounds are a kind of paradox. The sounds of hygge actually associate with the absence of sound. With the absence of sound, we can better hear the small comforting sounds, like the crackling of wood in the fireplace, raindrops on the roof, the sound of the wind outdoors on a breezy day, or even the chirp of the crickets on summer evenings. Any sound that you personally associate with a safe and comforting environment can be hygge.
The feel of hygge. The feeling of hygge can be physical or it can be felt internally. Handmade vintage things will always be chosen over manufactured things when referring to something that is hyggelig. The feel of anything weathered, organic, or rustic will always be associated with hygge. Another major part of the feeling hygge is being comfortable and safe in a hostile environment. Now, this might seem a little extreme, but i’m referring to the type of comfortable when you are cozy and warm inside and the winter winds are howling outside. Or, even for another simple example, when you are curled up in your bed at night under the covers, and it’s slightly chilly outside of those covers. All of these sensations refer to the feeling of hygge.
Seeing hygge. This one might seem a bit strange to us. How can you see something that is mainly based upon the way you feel? The great thing about the art of hygge, is that you can see it as well as feel it. The Danes take great pride in their lighting, which plays a major part in seeing hygge. Dimmed and soft lighting is preferable if you want to have a hyggestund (a moment of hygge) and see hygge as well as feel it. This Danish art also values a slow pace. Hygge is about taking your time. Watch things move naturally slow, like the falling snow, or the tongues of flames slowly licking up the last coals in a fire. A vision of hygge is, rustic, dim, and slow.

So, there are 5 different ways to captivate the art of hygge with your senses. To have your own hyggestund, remember that in all of the five dimensions, there is a key theme of comfort, safety, and appreciation for the little moments in life.

If you want to further research and start to live a little bit more hygge, I would recommend reading The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking. Also, on my Instagram account, for the month of August, I am hosting a hygge inspired photo challenge (#hyggust) co-hosting with my Instagram friend Hannah. At the end of the month there will be a hygge inspired giveaway. Even if you may not want to participate, you can check out the hygge inspired photos my Instagram friends and I will be taking this month. Or, you can read the challenge prompts that my friend and I created to get a better idea of hygge. If you want to take a look at my Instagram here is the link. https://www.instagram.com/the_ramblings_of_lindin

And if you are interested, here is the link to my co-host’s account https://www.instagram.com/hlroethle_books/

Stay hygge fellow ramblers,

Lindy

Of Old Books and Classics

C.S. Lewis’ advice for reading classic literature

But, if he [ the reader] must read only the new or only the old [books] I would advise him to read the old. -C.S. Lewis, On the Reading of Old Books.

Many see classic books and literature as intimidating, overwhelming, and maybe even sometimes boring. I have been strongly mistaken in this assumption, and I believe that classics are some of the most entertaining and enjoyable books to read. I always appreciated classics, but I became more appreciative and willing to read classics after reading C.S. Lewis’ essay, “On the Reading of Old Books.”

I had to reopen my jammed 3 ring binder from school this year and dig through the numerous papers to find the essay by C.S. Lewis that we discussed in literature class this year. To write this post, I re-read C.S. Lewis’ essay, took many notes, and pulled out my favorite quotes and pieces of advice for reading classics.

As modern readers of these great pieces of literature, we can sometimes humble ourselves too greatly, believing that we could never comprehend, as what C.S. Lewis would call them, “the greats’ ” writing. “He [the reader] feels himself inadequate and thinks he will not understand him [a great writer.] But, if only he knew, the great man, just because of his greatness, is much more intelligible than his modern commentator. The simplest student will be able to understand, if not all, but yet a very great deal of what Plato said…” Instead of confining our ideas and expectations of classics into the modern box, the box that believes that we cannot comprehend “the greats’ ” writing, instead of fleeing to modern commentators to learn what the writings of Plato or others say, we must trust ourselves and our knowledge that we will be able to glean from what Plato or any other great writer is saying through his or her piece of literature. C.S. Lewis assures, “firsthand knowledge is not only more worth acquiring than secondhand knowledge, but it usually much easier and more delightful to acquire.”

Classics, not only can be enjoyable when read, but they can teach us, and show us goodness, beauty, and truth. Old books get their name for a reason; they have stood the test of time, whereas modern books are still being “tested.” Just like one of the main reasons we study history is to correct the mistakes of the past, so should we read classic literature, teaching us truth that has stood true through centuries. Modern books have not stood that test yet. Modern culture, like any culture, is blind to their own follies, just as C.S.Lewis says, “We all, therefore, need the books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period. And that means the old books.”

If we are to read old books, how will the modern books ever survive and be passed down through generations to the future? Modern books stand on the shoulders of the old. “In the same way sentences in a modern book which look quite ordinary may be directed at some other book; in this way you may be led to accept what you would have indignantly rejected if you knew it’s real significance.” Modern books reflect the classics. When we are reading modern books, they may reflect back to the older pieces of literature, and we, as readers of classics, will be able to see those relations and reflections, making the reading experience of modern books richer.

Now that we see the importance of old books and classics, what do we do with that? How do we go about reading them? I would recommend starting with less intimidating books, starting small, and consistently reading them. I started with Emma by Jane Austen. After watching the 2009 BBC adaption, I needed to read the book. It took me a while to get through it, but I read it slowly and did not rush. The language used in some classics takes a while to get used to but, after reading one or two classics, they were much easier to read and enjoy. Just like I did with Emma, I watched the mini series before I read the book ( I know that is going against all of geek culture😉 Still, the book is normally better.) Even though the movies might stray from the book a little, I would recommend reading the book in chunks and watching the movies in chunks.

I personally love to follow the advice of C.S. Lewis, which is some of my favorite bookish advice, “It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between. If that is too much for you, you should at least read one old one to every three new ones.”

Hope C.S. Lewis and I have encouraged you in the reading of old books! If you would like to talk any more about classics or where to start in your reading of them, feel free to contact me!

Until next time fellow ramblers!

Lindy

Mountain Musings

Inspiration from the White Mountains of New Hampshire

The mountains. At this word, some might think, trees, animals, and rocks. To some, maybe a dirty place of unknowns, where scary creatures roam and slither untamed, where creepy crawlies skitter across the muddy ground, lurking on every tree, behind every rock, in every creek bed. Some may think trails and hiking, where only the physically fit and “rough” people can thrive. This is the way I thought of the mountains before this week. I will be honest, I don’t particularly enjoy “roughing it” in the middle of nowhere on a camping trip, hiking up the side of steep cliffs, or going on an intense hike, but this week, I have been able to see the mountains in a whole different way.

This week, I have been on vacation to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. At first the thought of an eight day mountain vacation did not enthuse me that much, but this week in New Hampshire has helped me see the mountains through a different lens, the lens of humility, complete submission, and awe. I now, at day six in our vacation, am in complete love of the mountains and nature. Yes, it is true, I still don’t enjoy strenuous intense hikes up the sides of cliffs. I am the type of person who loves to ramble 😉 through the woods, observing the “tiny” things. As I visited multiple water falls, mountain views and ranges this week, I no longer saw the woods as “the woods,” but God’s creation, His handiwork, His canvas.

In any aspect of nature, God’s handiwork shines through. I was walking through the woods this afternoon behind our resort and with anything I saw I thought of the intricacy in the way it lives and the way it was created. From the way the rocks are carved and allow the water to flow over them, to the slugs laying upon fungusy tree bark, to (my favorite) the moss that adorns the side of moist brook side boulders. In every part of nature, ginormous or minuscule, God’s artistry can be seen. The first thought that comes to me when I take in these natural, White Mountain wonders is the scripture Romans 1:20 For since the of creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities, divine nature, and eternal power have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

In every colony of moss, every grain of dirt, every drop of water has the fingerprint of God’s divine handiwork. To think even down to the molecular structure of the moss, trees, water, dirt and how they live and survive brings me to awe of creation. Taking in nature as a whole, brings me to speechlessness. The sheer size of the mountains are the be marveled at, then to think of all of the intricacies living inside those mountain ranges.

Nature is a beauty, but what it can do to your mind and soul is even more powerful. As I stepped foot into the woods this afternoon, I felt as if I was “unleashed,” moving along at a pace only Lindy moves at, taking in the beauty of the brook, but also feeling as if I was ten feet off the ground. It was invigorating and life giving as I jumped from rock to rock across the brook, searched the small pools off of the main brook for rocks and treasures, and petted the moss carpets (yes, I do love to pet moss) upon the boulders that I sat on in the middle of the brook. I felt free, yet humbled when reminded how vast our world was, that I was only in a tiny corner of the world, in a tiny corner of nature, in a tiny corner of God’s artistry.

I could ramble on for hours about the beauty and inspiration I found in the White Mountains this week. Nature, the woods, forest, mountains, whatever the outdoors may be called, when understood and marveled at, we can be brought to awe of God’s creation and become inspired so that we are without excuse.

Until next time fellow ramblers,

Lindy

An Unexpected Journey

I’m going on an adventure!
Bilbo Baggins

a tale of the literary sort

Every great story takes you on a journey, whether it be with dwarves and a hobbit to the Misty Mountains, to the sprawling grounds of Pemberly, or to the rocky Gothic moors of Wuthering Heights. We, as “non fiction” humans are on a journey though life, blindly wandering through the darkness, searching for a passion or calling to light up the intimidating darkness.

The introduction to my story was written around last February. The time of my thirteenth birthday, the birthday I will never forget, because that was the time where I fell completely in love with everything literary. February 9th was the day I started to read The Hobbit. The Hobbit was the one book that opened my eyes to the literary world, magic, and the beauty of story. I needed to quench a driving thirst for literature and wholesome story. It was like a domino effect. One book after another, I needed more and more. After reading Lord of the Rings, I was enthralled with everything Tolkien! My mind completely succumbed to fantasy, I was inspired to write a story (aka fan-fiction) based upon The Hobbit and with endless encouragement and motivation from my parents, I took on the task. “The Lost Daughter of Durin” was my first ever attempt at writing a story, let alone writing as a hobby. Suddenly, last summer, I found myself sitting up in my bed with Bastille songs blaring in my earbuds until one ‘o clock in the morning, my nose stuffed into my notebook, telling the tale of Lindin and her adventures to reunite herself with her Uncle Thorin and brothers Fili and Kili. Tears fogged my eyes one late summer night, as I scrawled THE END in my notebook, as I said goodbye to the first fictional character (though I don’t like to consider them fictional) I had ever created, Lindin, the Lost Daughter of Durin. Through the character of Lindin that I had created and Tolkien’s Middle Earth, not only had I developed a love for reading, but now a love for story telling and writing (not to mention a serious case of fangirl 😉

I felt like God was calling me to write, to bring a starving world wholesome, glorifying, redemptive stories, thus Meetings by Moonlight was born, my current WIP (work in progress.) I was hit with the inspiration to write Meetings by Moonlight one evening on Christmas break as my mom and I were cleaning up the kitchen after dinner. After a brainstorming session with my mom, I ran up to my room and began to write vigorously. I don’t have any close future plans for my helpless and cheesy romantic tale of young love and loss to be published, but a girl can dream can’t she? Stay tuned for some sneak peeks of Meetings by Moonlight 😉

Hence, after a calling from the Lord, encouragement from my parents, and a lot of late nights reading and writing, my love and passion for literature is thriving and driving me. I have hopes of someday becoming a Christian author, sharing the good news of Jesus to the world through redemptive wholesome stories, that fulfill the public craving for entertainment and story. I am so excited for you to join me in my rambles of the literary sort!

Until next time fellow ramblers!

Lindy