"Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psalm 16:11
I was totally caught off guard when my long faced, teen-aged daughter confessed a heart heavily burdened with doubt. Newly graduated with a fresh, new canvas on her life's easel, my daughter began to question everything. Her life seemed to mockingly stare blankly back at her as she looked around and compared her unseen masterpiece to her childhood friends emerging pieces of art. Most of her girlfriends had sadly chosen to keep the Lord out of their artwork but...they at least had vision and some of the portraits were turning out....kind of.....pretty. The resulting feelings of confusion and guilt where drowning her and as she sobbed, I held her and suspiciously looked around our "home" wondering how that crafty little devil found his way in. We live a relatively sheltered life; our house is quietly tucked away in the middle of nowhere among cornfields and soybeans, we home school with a curriculum that encircles our christian faith and the bible, the kids' best friends are their cousins, we have devotions, attend Sunday church.... and yet with all these attempts at safeguarding and sheltering the kids from the world and it's evils...Satan still found us. It was a painful reminder that times of struggle are Satan's favorite time to come a knockin' on our door (like the woman in Proverbs 9:14 and 15) and like a cloven silver tongued salesmen, he'll barge right in our lives and offer multiple tantalizing cure alls. He dangles colorful bottles of "Try This!" and "Just Once!" and without bothering to even check the warning label, bottle after delicious bottle of his promises are guzzled leaving us with swooning side effects. Reeling from joylessness and doubt, my daughter had a decision to make. Two paths lay in front of her as they do for us all. To help shine a spotlight on the correct one, I suggested a journey of sorts, one that would surely change her life forever........
"I am looking for someone to share an adventure that I am arranging, and its very difficult to find anyone." ~Gandalf, "The Hobbit"
Never would I dream that my daughter's fast, a 40 days "unplugged" journey giving up all electronics (T.V, Facebook, PlayStation, Wii...) would eventually encompass the whole family. I mean, yeah, we rooted her on, complimented her and admired her, but we didn't need to do it, too.....did we?! After a few short weeks, the joyous glow returned to my daughters cheeks and the return of her giddy laughter and happy bounce in her step stood out in stark contrast to my own slow progression to the sad, joyous figure she was just emerging from. I knew I had my own hidden stash of empty colored bottles of Satan's lies that I had gulped down. I felt twinges of jealousy and guilt noticing all the newly gained time she had for adventures of a vast variety....in scripture, in classic pieces of literature, in the art of her photography.....all were wonderful and fulfilling..... and time ......it seemed it was no longer the ticking enemy. Grinning, one morning, she plopped down "The Hobbit" on the kitchen counter in front of me. Her eyes dancing, I could tell this was definitely one of her favorite unplugged adventures so far. While the rest of us sat in a trance watching the latest "CAN"T miss episode!" on T.V or were frantically working on trying to get to the next PlayStation level with frayed nerves and bloodshot eyes, my daughter traveled "There and Back Again" in two days! Noticing the rest of the families ever paling cheeks was enough to coax me off my queenly perch on the couch and pack my bags and the rest of the family's. We're in!
"And I'm sure the rain has got into the dry clothes and into the food bags," thought Bilbo. "Bother burgling and everything to do with it! I wish I was at home in my nice hole by the fire, with the kettle just beginning to sing!" It was not the last time that he wished that! ~Bilbo Baggins, "The Hobbit"
"Oh, Bilbo, you silly Hobbit!" I chuckled to myself tapping the side of my head, admiring my craftiness. I had just finished the first chapter of "The Hobbit"'; the part where Bilbo overslept and almost missed the beginning of his adventure. Gandalf hurriedly shooed him on his way without a moment to pack his beloved pipe or his handkerchiefs. "Always be prepared!" I thought. Duh! If he would have watched any episode of " Doomsday Preppers" he would have known to be prepared with his quick escape bag. Smiling smugly, I finished a couple more chapters and was panic free as the red record button flashed on our DVR. Ingeniously, I had made sure to clean up my DVR recordings the night before our unplugged adventure....weeding out the news shows and other non-emergency recordings to insure all my important shows would be there waiting for me at the end of our journey.
The first night wasn't all that bad. It was kind of exciting, like loosing power and having everyone huddled together for safety in the same room. We sat at the kitchen table and played Phase 10, Monopoly Deal, and then by the time we got to our second hour and the third game of Uno my backside was tingly and half numb. I looked at the clock. 8:00. Usually by 8, I announce to my kids that I'm closed, I pour a cup of decaffeinated coffee, put on my jammies and pink fluffy robe, and with my hubby and favorite blankie, we together stare and drool at the T.V for 3 hours of relaxing, nonthinking, zoned out bliss. With cards in one hand, my coffee in another and a numb bottom end, it wasn't my usual evening of relaxing, nonthinking, zoned out bliss. Did I mention the screaming? We are loud at playing games and usually I like it loud. Just not during my relaxing, nonthinking, zoned out bliss time. Wiggling to find a comfortable spot on the hard kitchen chair I thought of the long weeks ahead without my cushiony throne...."Oh! I hope all my shows are recording!" I worried silently. "I wish I could check the DVR!!" .....and "it was not the last time that I wished that."
".....You don't really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit?" ~ Gandalf to Bilbo at the end of his journey. "The Hobbit"
It's amazing how the Lord used my daughters trial to change the whole family. At the end of the agreed upon two week journey I marvel in awe at the Lord's ability to grow not just one child of his....but a house full all at the same time! Our journey didn't involve battling giant spiders, goblins or jeweled bellied dragons. It was a peaceful, wondrous adventure of evenings gazing up into the night sky in front of a fire searching for star formations, bonding sitting around the kitchen table giggling and shouting loudly at cards, and cramming together on Mom and Dad's bed to read. Our home became a quiet sanctuary free from the chains of a life revolving around who the winner of the next Cupcake War will be or who will be eliminated from the next Amazing Race. Bilbo and the Dwarfs were victorious in their quest for the dragons hoard of stolen treasure, but what we found shines brighter that the "precious" golden ring found by Bilbo. Each of us gained a fresh vision of the portrait the Lord wants us to paint as a family. Sojourning on, my daughter continues her 40 days unplugged goal as ours comes to an end. I don't know how TV will fit into my new unplugged life.....so she may just have a traveling partner yet!
Romans 5:3-4 tells us to "glory in tribulation..knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope."
Authors Note:
A heartfelt THANKYOU to my girl for letting me use her story and for letting us tag along on her amazing journey! <3 ((HUGS)) <3
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