I haven’t had much time for writing this week, but I loved this beauty from Psalm 84 this morning:
Psalm 84:5-6 Happy are the people whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca (weeping), they make it a source of spring water; even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings. They go from strength to strength; each appears before God in Zion.
Oh, this is beautiful!
As we seem to be in a season of losing strength in the natural, I feel the strength we’re gaining spiritually and it’s true – there’s happiness in it. Against all odds, we are finding happiness we haven’t had before and that’s a deeply beautiful thing. God is using this valley of weeping in our lives to produce a source of springwater – hopefully for many.
I wonder: where is this pilgrimage leading? Ultimately, heaven…I know that one. But I also think that having a heart set on pilgrimage is an attitude or a lifestyle. The KJV says, “whose hearts are set on the way” and the word “way” means a highway or a viaduct – a passageway that we move through. It’s easy to get stuck and stay stuck. Some people get stuck because of something bad someone says to them. Some get stuck because of a broken relationship. Some get stuck because of an illness or a bankruptcy or whatever…but it seems to me here that if your heart is set on moving, on growing, on learning, on getting to the next place – that you WILL go from strength to strength instead of stuck to stuck.
Steve has a heart set on pilgrimage and not just heaven. His heart is set on becoming something internally that he has never been before. He’s not stuck in ALS…he’s moving. In fact, he’s moving fast! Our hearts are SET on letting the hard stuff become launching points for the next move of God, the next season of discovery. In order to do that, we have to value His presence more than we value comfort and more than we value our victim status. As we respond to His movement, He fills us with His strength to endure the things we never thought we could endure. The decision to keep moving and growing through the Valley of Weeping is morning-by-morning and sometimes even minute-by-minute, but it’s always worth it.
That’s it. That’s what I journaled on this morning. Are you stuck? Set your heart on pilgrimage…you’ll find happiness and strength along the way.
With Hope,
Bo
P.S. Steve’s appointment went wonderfully! The disease has made very little progress since February and we are so thankful and so encouraged. Thank you so much for your prayers. We truly love you.
There is an inherent freedom in these times. We seem to carry, in “normal” times, a fear of jumping off the cliff into our deepest potential — in spirit, in relationships. We hold back, waiting for that day, time, age, when we’ll have the courage, or time, or inclination to go deeper.
The beauty of the gift is undeniable. Understanding now more than ever what matters — and what doesn’t. Understanding that the grace of God is more vast, and deep, and personal, than we could have imagined.
You continue to inspire as we continue to pray! Love you all.
Morning Bo,
Love what you had to say about you and Steve today. Linda and i are feeling the same way and everyday we find ourselves growing in love and in spirit. God’s plan for us is amazing and truly a source of springwater for many.
We always have a choice when it comes to being stuck or not stuck and i am so inspired by both Linda and Steve’s choice not to be stuck but to grow in strength.
I am truly blessed to have Steve and the Stern family in my life.
Make it your best day yet.
Your journey has kept me going this winter when I have wanted to give up. Husband has been sick since early March with some sort of respiratory/sinus infection.. still is not healed but hopefully that will change before much longer. Yesterday he thought he had a kidney stone (has had them before).. earlier on had a reaction to one of his antibiotics.. it’s been just a long hard spring and yet our journey is nothing as compared to what you and Steve are going through. We are getting our house ready to “sell” – have to – it’s time. We are confident that God has a much better/.different chapter next for us so we are doing our best to embrace it. Buddies is going amazing – finishing up our 9th year.. I am exhausted from trying to do too much to keep it all in the air .. but then I read your posts.. and wow.. things change. We pray for you guys alot and admire your stength and courage. Even though we don’t see you .. we care.. Know you are loved by many! Char
Continuing to believe! Nothing can stop our journey in God, towards God but apathy.