First Lady of Influence

Every day on my way to work I pass a national historic site. How many people can say that?! The site is Valkill, the home of Eleanor Roosevelt. It was several years before I actually visited the site that I pass every day. A few years ago I visited with a particular thought in mind: What could I learn from Eleanor as a woman of worldwide and enduring influence? I had watched a few television biographies about her, but I wanted to see what I could learn by visiting her home. I came home with two items from the bookstore, a copy of “The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt” (Roosevelt 1992) and a magnet with a quote from the very quotable Eleanor. As I read through her book and as I have thought of her since there are a few things I have learned from “The First Lady of the World” a name created by officials at Rhode Island University (Means 1963).

Live the life you have.  Eleanor’s life was never what she would have chosen. She was unloved by her mother, orphaned by age 10, raised by relatives, married to a distant cousin whose mother dominated their lives, lost one of her six children in infancy, endured her husband’s infidelity and crippling illness (Ashby 1995). She began as a shy and insecure young woman, but, through the trials she faced, chose to overcome her fears and disappointment to live the life she had, for her own benefit and the benefit of all those she could influence. It’s my conclusion that Eleanor began to find herself when she lost her husband’s intimate affection.  They were married in 1905, but after she confronted her husband’s affair with his secretary in 1918 (Ashby 1995), the marriage changed. It was their choice to remain married in the legal sense, but they ceased to function as a normal married couple. Over time they developed a very effective and affectionate partnership, but it was after the loss of the marriage that Eleanor developed her interest and activities outside the home. She became the woman of influence that she was because of her trials, not in spite of them.

Are you letting your trials and disappointments prevent you from moving forward? They will shape you no matter how you choose to face them. Allow them to propel you forward toward fulfilling your potential instead of holding you back. Disappointments and loss are not a reason to curl up and die. They are an invitation to envision life in a new way.

Take advantage of every opportunity. Eleanor Roosevelt worked within her husband’s places of influence to develop her own. She became her own public person both because of and separate from her husband’s place of influence. (Harness 2003) Eleanor had been developing her own involvement and her own public forum for years through political participation in women’s causes and social issues. She was concerned that becoming First Lady might end pursuit of her own political interests since at the time the role of First Lady was primarily that of Hostess-In-Chief. Instead, she forever altered our understanding of the First Lady’s role. Through her daily newspaper column, “My Day”, which she continued by typewriter and telephone from wherever she was in the world (Roosevelt 1992) she reached ordinary people with her thoughts and ideas.  Through radio broadcasts, global travel and speeches she championed social causes and called for societal reform. Throughout all of this she also represented her husband and influenced his decisions. One biographical article even called her “…a full partner in the task of the presidency, deeply involved in politics, in the operation of government agencies and in the conduct of public affairs.” (Means 1963)

The Eleanor quote on the magnet I bought at the Valkill gift shop says, “Do one thing every day that scares you.” I chose it because at the time I was becoming aware that fear was something that had put a limit on my ability to fulfill my God-given potential. I had already determined that I didn't want fear to be the reason that I didn't do something. Eleanor’s quote is a constant reminder to continue to look beyond the comfortable and be who I was created to be, to take advantage of the opportunities around me.

There are opportunities waiting for you to engage. Despite the idiom, opportunity will not knock on your door. Opportunities wait to be explored and discovered. They are all around you. What opportunities exist for you in the sphere where you are already living? Open your eyes. Pray. Look around. Find the place where you can begin to be a person of influence and get involved.

It’s not over till it’s over. It has been said that Eleanor Roosevelt is “the only First Lady who increased her own prestige and her efforts on behalf of mankind after her husband’s death.” (Means 1963)  She served as a delegate to the United Nations, appointed by her husband’s Vice President and successor President Harry Truman, and as chairman of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. (Means 1963)Through the adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1949 (Ashby 1995) she influenced the entire world. She continued to be active and involved globally. Her last official position came just a year before her death when she served in 1961 as chair of President Kennedy’s Commission on the Status of Women. (Ashby 1995) Since Eleanor Roosevelt’s death at the age of 78 in 1962 (the year I was born), we have had one First Lady become Secretary of State, yet none of her successors  has come close to the sweeping and lasting influence of Eleanor Roosevelt.

There were quite a few times in her life when Eleanor could have called it quits. She could have decided that she had done enough, or been hurt enough by life, and just retired to her little cottage called Valkill in Hyde Park, NY. But she never stopped, even as she neared 80 years old.  She spent her life for the benefit of others and used her influence to do as much good as she could.

You and I may not agree with Eleanor on everything that she fought for or stood for, but we can never fault her for letting disappointment or fear or age hold her back. She fully committed herself to live the life she had, taking advantage of every opportunity until the very end of life. Every one of us can do that! Go for it, my friend!

Works Cited

Ashby, Ruth. "Eleanor Roosevelt." In Herstory: Women Who Changed the World, by Ruth Ashby and Deborah Gore, 199-201. New York: Viking, 1995.

"Eleanor Roosevelt." In Rabble Rousers: 20 Women Who Made a Difference, by Cheryl Harness, 46-47. New York: Dutton Children's, 2003.

"Anna Eleanor Rooselvelt." In The Woman in the White House; the Lives, times and Influence of Twelve Notable First Ladies, by Marianne Means, 189-214. New York: Random House, 1963.

Roosevelt, Eleanor. "The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt." New York: DeCapo Press, 1992.

Public People, Private Pain

A few weeks ago I posted a blog entitled “Dollar Store Mentor” in which I shared how I had found a book in a dollar store by Kay Warren, wife of Pastor Rick Warren, and how she had become a mentor to me through that book. Since finding her book I have listened to messages by Kay and have recently been listening to the audiobook in Kay’s own voice of her most recent release “Choose Joy: Because Happiness Is Not Enough”. The news this weekend of the death of the Warren’s son by an apparent suicide becomes more personal to me because of my recent following of Kay. I have prayed for her, aware that everything she talks about in “Choose Joy” is now being put to the test through her personal tragedy. As I’ve thought about her, I have thought about how difficult it must be to go through such a personally devastating time knowing that their private pain is a news item.

As any of us step out of our comfort zones into new places of leadership, more of our private life becomes public. A school principal or teacher, a pastor or church leader, a performer or public official all live some measure of their life in the public eye. My husband has worked in radio or television for most of our married life and has also briefly served as a church pastor. We have been in leadership positions in churches we have attended. We know what it is like to live “in the fishbowl” on a local and regional level. Through Tom’s media positions we have sometimes had the opportunity to meet and get to know people who are well-known, both nationally and regionally, in secular as well as Christian spheres. There are some things I have learned about life in the public eye and people who live life in the public eye.

People are people. In our celebrity-driven culture, famous people are viewed as somehow special, as if they are not normal people. Occasionally, when someone meets my husband or one of his radio associates for the first time they take a step back and their jaw drops as if they are surprised that there isn’t some kind of aura emanating from this person. We have met people whose names you would know if I mentioned them and I can tell you, they are just like you. They have tension in their marriages, struggle to be good parents, occasionally make bad financial decisions and sometimes blow it big time. They get sick, tired, hungry and grouchy and they get their feelings hurt. If they happen to be Christians I can tell you they do not have a direct pipeline to God that enables them to live life on a higher spiritual plane than you do. Just because you have seen them on TV, heard them on the radio, or read a book that they have written does not mean that they have super powers. An American Idol is a human being. People are people. When you hear about a famous person going through a difficult time, imagine how you would feel if you were in their place. They are most likely feeling exactly the same way you would and need your compassion.

People are watching. Truth: We all live life in the public eye to some extent. Years ago my husband spent a year as an associate pastor on staff at a church. He was over the children’s ministry and we worked together with a team of people, training them to teach parts of the lesson during a children’s church presentation and giving them opportunities to grow as leaders and as people. Through a bout with depression, Tom ended up losing his position at the church. When we first faced the reality that Tom might lose his position we thought that we would have to leave the church, to stay would just be too painful. When the loss actually happened, we felt that leaving was not an option, so we stayed. It was an excruciatingly painful time for us. It was especially difficult at first, as the depression had not lifted and we were merely surviving from day to day. As time went on, the depression was healed and our life began to return to a measure of normalcy.

About a year later we were in a small group Bible study along with a couple who had been members of our Kids Church team. They were still working with the ministry. In a conversation at one of the meetings the wife told me about how the loss of Tom and me as leaders had created a painful time for them and other members of our team. They had continued with difficulty. She told me that if we had left the church, they would have left as well. We were so busy just trying to survive that we didn’t realize our response to the trial was having that kind of impact. Our decision to just keep on going helped them to keep on as well.

I am aware as I pray for Kay Warren that I am watching her, hoping that she will be able to live out all that she has professed, understanding just how difficult that will be. In your sphere of influence, people are watching you in the same way, and as you move beyond your comfortable borders your sphere of influence will widen. More people will be watching you. How will you handle it?

People need support, not criticism. In contrast to those who elevate a “famous” person are those who seem to forget that they are real people rather than nondescript entities. As they talk about the public person, they drop any attempts at respect and openly criticize decisions and actions in a way they would never talk about a fellow human, as if the public person gave up their right to be treated as a human when they stepped into a position of notice. It’s very easy to become an “armchair quarterback” or “armchair pastor” or “armchair president” or whatever, and declare your opinion about what a public person should be doing or should have done without feeling the responsibility of the position. No one knows what it’s like to be that person, to be in their position facing their decisions, except that person. You and I don’t have a right to speak disrespectfully about a leader, or a celebrity, just because their life is public. Let me just say that this kind of criticism has touched our family personally and I’ll leave it there.

The “Golden Rule” is a good guide. “Treat others as you would like to be treated”, even if they are a “famous” person. If you wouldn’t want someone to be talking that way about you, then you shouldn’t be talking that way about any other human being regardless of their position.

After a few days of silence the Warrens have begun posting to social media again. One of Kay’s most recent Twitter posts: “We are devastated but not destroyed. God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in time of trouble. Psalm 46:1.”

Can you tell the “real deal” from a distance? I think so. When people view my life from a distance I want them to see the “real deal”.

Warning! Change Is Hazardous To Your Comfort!

So, we've been talking and thinking about what it takes to make changes and move outside our comfort zone, our box. We've learned from pioneers and we've been inspired by courageous change. With those thoughts fresh in your mind maybe now you are ready. Maybe you've decided that it is time for you to take a step beyond the perimeter and begin to explore some unfamiliar territory. Before you do, you should be prepared for a few things.

You are going to be excited…and scared. Once you have decided to begin moving in an unfamiliar direction you are going to be excited about the prospect of a new aspect of your life. As you begin to ponder your new venture and imagine yourself actually doing it, you are going to be thrilled by the vision. However, at the same time you are going to have a LOT of questions. “What if I fall flat on my face?” “Can I really do this?” “What will those important to me think about it?” “Is this really going to be worth the sacrifice?”

I want to encourage you not to ignore the questions, but don’t be overwhelmed by them either.  Face the reality that there will be moments of failure as you make this journey outside the box. It is inevitable. But be sure to look at your failures as steps to learn on that will bring you closer to your goal. The most important thing is to keep moving toward fulfilling your God-given purpose.  Every step, even every failure, is part of the journey. Just keep stepping!

You are going to feel uncomfortable. None of us remember taking our first steps. Our brains just can’t hold on to a monumental moment that occurred when we were so small. However, all of us have seen a baby learning to walk. At first, she may be tentative about walking on her own and reach constantly for the hand of an adult. After a while, she lets go of the steadying hand, but stays nearby a comforting leg or a piece of furniture. It seems to me that toddlers pretty much skip actually walking once they get comfortable. After they've gained confidence, they don’t go anywhere without running!

Learn from the babies! You are going to feel unsteady as you take your first steps. It’s normal. It’s okay to lean on someone who has traveled the road you are just beginning. It’s wise, in fact. You are going to fall down. Get back up! I have never seen a baby fall down and decide that they are going to give up walking for good. They may crawl again for a bit. They may need a little comforting, but usually they are back on their feet lickety-split and running toward the next interesting thing their eye catches. When you stumble, evaluate where you went wrong, determine what you need to learn, get some comfort if necessary and GET BACK UP! And just for the record: Been there. Done that. I survived and so can you.

You are going to realize just how much you need to learn. Every failure is a learning opportunity. You can’t learn to swim unless you are actually in the water. It looks different once you jump in, but you learn pretty quickly how to keep afloat. Then you can develop some technique.

 In swimming, and so many other areas of life, you can only learn so much from watching someone else do it. You can learn some things, but once you have actually tried what you have only watched, you begin to watch differently. You begin to see what works and what doesn't  Not only that you begin to imagine yourself trying the things that work. Then next time you get an opportunity you will have more skills in your arsenal. The important thing is to remember that you will never arrive. You will always be learning. Once you accept that the journey takes on the continual joy of learning something new with every step.

Dear friend, you are going to find so much joy in your journey. Learning something new is exhilarating, once you get past feeling scared and insecure.  It’s the journey that is the important part. Success can be measured in actually taking the first step, not in how effective that first step turns out to be. There will be others, right? What are you waiting for? Step outside!

Courageous Change

Sometimes we are pushed outside our comfortable parameters by unforeseen circumstances or relationships. In 2009 our lives were gloriously and beautifully altered through an unforeseen relationship. Through that relationship we have become associated with a wonderful institution, The Walter Hoving Home in Garrison, NY.  It is a residential facility for women dedicated to the mission of “rebuilding lives shattered by drugs and alcohol”. We have had the opportunity to walk closely with a few of the ladies as they have gone through the process of rebuilding, but through the time we have spent there we have developed an affection and appreciation for every woman who has the courage to leave the familiar present, even if it is one controlled by addiction, and move to an unknown future. Here are a few lessons I've learned from these beautiful and courageous women about what it takes to truly change.

Courageous change begins with humility. The women we have encountered at the Home come from many walks of life, from pastors’ wives to former prostitutes, but they have one thing in common. Every woman who arrives at the Home has reached one of the lowest points in her life. Before she arrives she has to admit that her life has become unmanageable and that she is hopeless to change without help. The women who come to the home are broken and desperate, but that is exactly what enables them to embark on a journey of true change. Many of us never reach the place of being humble enough to admit our own weakness and need for change. As a result we never experience the exhilaration and refreshment of courageous change.

Are you and I ready to humbly admit our own faults and weaknesses and recognize our need of help in order to truly change?

Courageous change takes discipline. The Home has some pretty strict rules and, as Americans, really as humans, most of us have a hard time being told what to do and how to do it. There are reasons for every rule, meant to protect every woman who is in the 6-month to 12-month program. Sadly, many women refuse to abide by the rules and end up leaving, either by their own choice or by the request of the leadership. However, the women who submit to the discipline of conduct, schedule, responsibility and education gain the tools to live a new life when they leave the program. As they submit to discipline, their thinking changes.  As their thinking changes, their habits change, their character changes and their lives change. These are the women who will leave the program courageously changed and ready to successfully live a totally new life.

How often do I balk at the idea of doing something just because someone told me to do it? I would much rather come up with the idea myself, thank you! If I can choose to submit myself to the discipline imposed on me by my situation, might I change for the better?

Courageous Change needs the support of others. Each new arrival to the Home is paired with a Big Sister, a woman who has been there for a while and will help the new woman to get used to her unfamiliar surroundings. She may be terrified at this turn in her life and even more terrified of her uncertain future. The function of the Big Sister is to help her transition and become a part of the community in the Home so that she can begin the process of rebuilding her shattered life. Those first few days are critical in helping a woman to stay with the program.

 The women who succeed in the program recognize their need for each other. Although, like any place where groups of people live in close proximity with others, there are conflicts, at the heart of the experience at the Home is the sense of community. The women who stay in the program do become sisters. For many, they learn to feel the real pain of life for the first time without escaping into addiction and their sisters help them through that pain. They help each other in times of discouragement and weakness. They have fun and laugh. They share holidays and the joys of everyday life.

None of us were made to go through life alone. We all need others to help us when we face the trials that are inevitable in life. Just as Ecclesiastes says: “Two are better than one…If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) Do you have a few trusted friends to encourage you and pick you up as you face your own courageous change?

Courageous change takes commitment. One heartbreaking truth about the Walter Hoving Home is that only the women who stay will be able to fully embrace courageous change. Many women choose not to stay for a variety of reasons. Some miss their families too much. Some miss their street friends too much. Some who leave end up in jail, or worse. Some who leave end up coming back and successfully completing the program. But in order to graduate from the Walter Hoving Home a woman must, not only complete the program, but successfully live for a period of time free from the constant supervision and discipline imposed within the Home.  Many women leave the Home between Day One and Graduation Day which is what make Graduation Day such a glorious celebration. The women who stay for the long haul have earned the respect and admiration of all who have the privilege to attend. They have humbled themselves, submitted to the discipline, and received the support of their sisters and others along the way. They have followed through on their commitment and, if they continue to walk out all they have learned, will receive the prize of a gloriously, courageously changed life that will last, not only through their life on earth but into eternity.

Ready to commit to a journey of courageous change? It’s worth it!

Hebrews 12:11 “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

For information visit walterhovinghome.org .

Dollar Store Mentor

 Have you ever picked up a book in the dollar store? While I was Christmas-stocking shopping for my family I saw a book that I decided to pick up and hand to my husband for my own stocking. (It’s weird, but, yeah, we do things like that!)  I figured for a dollar it was worth a curiosity read. The book was called “Dangerous Surrender” and was written by Kay Warren, wife of well-known pastor, Rick Warren, author of the best-seller “The Purpose-Driven Life” among other books.  I had read Rick Warren’s book, participated in several DVD bible studies by him and even heard him speak at a conference, but I had heard very little about Kay. I have greatly benefited from Rick’s ministry, so I was curious what Kay might be like. That book has turned out to be much more than a satisfaction of my curiosity.

Mentors aren't always people that we see face to face. A mentor can be anyone who instructs and inspires by their example. I have found a mentor in Kay Warren, a woman who has learned to come out of her box and experience a life beyond comfortable borders.

In “Dangerous Surrender” (updated and republished as “Say Yes to God” in 2010, thus the dollar store) Kay describes her journey from content pastor’s wife to passionate global HIV/AIDS advocate. Although up until that time her world was already bigger than most of us will ever experience, she was inside a “box” and content to be so. Then she heard a call she couldn't ignore. She shares how her eyes were opened to the global HIV/AIDS crisis and how she couldn't escape the burden that something had to be done and that she was the one to do it. She describes her life as “Before HIV/AIDS” and “After HIV/AIDS”. She has gone places, met people, done things and spoken about topics that did not show up on her radar before that moment. She has overcome obstacles, including two bouts with cancer, weathered criticism, and still stayed the course, never wavering in her objective to advocate for those with HIV/AIDS and the children orphaned as a result of the crisis.

So what have I learned from this new mentor I found in a dollar store? Many things and I expect to learn more as I observe her from a distance. But here are a few lessons.

Ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Kay shared her lifelong struggle with accepting herself as an ordinary person rather than someone extraordinary. Then she answered the call and realized that it didn't matter that she was ordinary. She could accomplish something extraordinary and God would get the glory for it.

You and I can definitely do that! When we answer the call and receive the empowerment that comes along with it, we can accomplish extraordinary things. It begins as I start to take the steps. Why not?

Genuine, committed concern for others causes me to move beyond my own comfort zones. Until the day Kay became fully aware of the HIV/AIDS crisis she was content to serve in ways that had become comfortable and familiar. When her heart was overwhelmed by compassion for those suffering with HIV/AIDS she began to move out of the comfortable in order to act on their behalf.

Motivation to move in an unanticipated direction comes as I respond to the call to act on behalf of someone else. You and I exist for the benefit of others, not to pursue our own comfort and pleasure. When we commit to that we will find ourselves on a new and satisfying path.

The deepest motivation to explore my own perimeters and take some pioneer action comes from a commitment to say “yes” to God no matter what the cost. I could relate to many of Kay’s struggles as she shared her journey, but what I could relate to most was her desire to follow God, to say “yes”, to honor Him no matter what. When I get right down to the bottom of it all that is my greatest desire and has been the greatest motivation to move beyond my own comfortable borders and explore my own pioneer territory.

Thanks, Kay.

Check out Kay's website to be instructed and inspired. www.kaywarren.com

Pioneering is Risky Business

So, the idea of pioneering may seem exciting to you. If you've been a box-dweller who has just begun to explore your perimeter the land beyond may be starting to take on a glamorous glow. Not to take the wind out of your sails, but be prepared for the unexpected. You just don’t know what you’ll face, and although you may reach your planned destination, you may find some disappointments along the way. In addition, the reason why you choose to make the journey may not be the legacy you leave behind.  I've learned some of this from the story of an American pioneer woman named Narcissa Whitman.

I had never heard of Narcissa Whitman and her husband, Marcus, before I began delving deeper into my study of pioneers. She and her husband left Western New York State with another couple in 1836 to head for Oregon Territory as missionaries to the Cayuse tribe of Native Americans. They started a mission near what is now Walla Walla, Washington. Here are a few things I've learned from her story.

The most important reason to make the journey is in answer to the call. Both Marcus and Narcissa had committed their lives to following Christ and had individually volunteered for missionary service among the Native Americans of the western frontier. Though willing and able, Narcissa was not accepted as a missionary at first because she was a single woman. Marcus received his appointment as a missionary doctor and could have made the journey as a single man, but it was expected that missionaries be married. (Jeffrey 1999) The Whitman’s marriage was very likely a result of their individual callings and mutual commitment to following the missionary call rather than a romantic attachment. They started for the Pacific Northwest the day after their marriage. (Narcissa Whitman biography 2013)

We each have a calling. Part of discovering that calling is a willingness to do whatever it takes to fulfill that calling. How committed are you and I to answering the call?

Someone has got to be first. The Whitman’s successful arrival in Oregon Country proved to a skeptical society that women could actually make such a difficult journey. Narcissa and her companion, Eliza Spalding, were the first white women to cross the Rocky Mountains. As a result of her willingness to pursue a pioneer missionary calling, Narcissa had opportunities and experiences that would never have been open to her if she had remained in New York State. She taught, led worship services, studied the Nez Perce language, and ran the mission while her husband was away.

Because Narcissa Whitman made the journey, countless women after her traveled across the continent and settled in the Northwest and on the west coast. Are you and I willing to make the difficult journey into new territory so that others can benefit from our experiences?

The journey may cost more than you bargained for, but there is no going back. A cost for Narcissa Whitman was that from the moment she left home after her marriage she never saw her family again. Although she was able to correspond, the time in between receiving letters from home was long. Many of her letters were published after her death, leaving behind a very personal description of her experiences. She was often lonely, but found comfort in caring for her daughter, Alice. Tragically, another cost of her pioneer life was the loss of Alice, at the age of 2 to an accidental drowning.  

Although the Cayuse were initially friendly and curious in listening to the Whitman’s message, after eleven years not one converted to Christianity. (Jeffrey, Narcissa Prentiss Whitman 1999) Many Cayuse began to feel threatened and angry at the increasing presence of whites in their territory. The final cost for the Whitman’s was their death, with eleven others, on November 29, 1847 at the hands of several Cayuse who, in addition to feeling  threatened,  were angry that Dr. Whitman had not been able to prevent many Cayuse from dying after an outbreak of measles. (Biography of Marcus Whitman 2013)

Although some costs can be foreseen, others cannot. Are we willing to risk the unforeseen in order to venture beyond the comfortable into the unknown?

Making the journey is really more important than the success of the journey.  Although the Whitman Mission was not successful in converting the Cayuse to Christianity, the Mission became a welcome stop along the Oregon Trail for many a weary traveler. The Mission was often a wintering place for other pioneers before they headed to their ultimate destinations. The Whitman Mission is now a National Historic site and the Whitman’s legacy continues to be discussed. The Whitman’s are not remembered so much because of their missionary work, but because they made the journey across the continent and helped others to do the same.

When we begin our journey as pioneers we are not guaranteed success, but if are we willing to make the journey anyway, we just might open the way up for someone else. Wouldn't you consider that success?

Visit the National Parks Service website for more information on the Whitmans and the Whitman Mission National Historic Site.

Works Cited

Biography of Marcus Whitman. February 20, 2013. http://www.nps.gov/whmi/historyculture/marcus-biography.htm (accessed March 13, 2013).

Jeffrey, Julie Roy. "Marcus Whitman." In American National Biography.Vol.23, by John A., and Mark C. Carnes. Garraty, 278-281. New York: Oxford UP, 1999.

Jeffrey, Julie Roy. "Narcissa Prentiss Whitman." In American National Biography, Vol. 23, by John A., and Mark C. Carnes. Garraty, 279-281. New York: Oxford UP, 1999.

Narcissa Whitman biography. March 10, 2013. http://www.nps.gov/whmi/historyculture/narcissa-biography.htm (accessed March 13, 2013).

A Pioneer? Me?

God gets my attention in pictures. God knows me. He knows just the way to get my attention and give me an idea of what He is asking of me. There are times when I get a picture in my head that comes from nowhere and stays with me. At that point I begin to ask God if there is something that He is saying. He knows that I am a researcher and as I research I begin to uncover all that the picture means and the layers of what He is trying to tell me. More than ten years ago I had such an experience that continues to speak to me.

A what? It was during the ending prayer time at a church conference on discovering and using God-given gifts. Out of nowhere there was a picture in my head of a Conestoga wagon! How spiritual! But as I began to think about it, and to ask God about it, I realized that like those who loaded up those wagons so long ago, God was calling me to move out of my comfort zone and be willing to move to uncharted territory. To be a pioneer. The specifics of that calling weren't clear at the time, but I had some ideas and began to explore them, to explore the perimeter of my comfortable box and begin to imagine, to dream of new possibilities. Over time I began to actually move toward some of those dreams.

Another picture?! But here is the real kicker to that story. Just a few years ago my husband and I were able to visit Walt Disney World with our youngest daughter. One of the attractions we visited was the “American Adventure”, a journey through American history Disney-style. As an image flashed on the screen of a pioneer woman pushing a plow, I looked at her face and thought, “She looks like me!” The next moment my daughter leaned over and said, “She looks like you!” Yes, God can even speak to me on my vacation at Disney World. That image not only brought back everything associated with the Conestoga wagon, but brought clarity to decisions I had made since and helped me realize just how much farther along the road I had come since that time. My pioneer journey had not only begun, but was progressing. What an encouragement!

Some lessons from the pioneers. So, here are a few things to encourage you on your pioneer journey.

1.       The journey starts with an idea. Before pioneers packed up and took off, they first had the idea to move. They considered actually making the journey and decided to go. Time to start considering!
2.        The journey continues with preparation. Pioneers didn't decide one day and leave the next. There were many preparations that had to be made before they could actually leave. Supplies and transportation were procured. Perhaps they had to learn more about the place they were planning to move to or skills they would need when they arrived. Time to prepare!
3.        The journey begins with good-bye. Traveling to a new life can really only start when we are willing to leave behind the familiar and comfortable. Pioneers left behind family, friends, everything they knew, in order to make the journey. They didn't know what to expect along the way and they didn't really know what to expect when they got there. They only knew that they had to go. Time to start saying good-bye!

It’s your turn to start your journey. Consider. Prepare. Say good-bye to the past and begin your adventure. “A pioneer? Me?” you say. Why not?!