Sacred Celebrations {Lessons from the trail}

The thought did cross my mind:

“I wonder what women would do if they saw their recent conference speaker bustin’ a move on the dance floor to Young MC and Will Smith?”

Then I had to smile as I thought of the answer:

“I hope they’d dance with me!”

Yes, last weekend we–Jeff and I and Dutch and Heidi–hit the dance floor. We had the joy of attending the wedding of my dear cousin, Scott. I can still remember 29 years ago, when little Scott arrived on an airplane from Calcutta, India. My eyes were wide: He was so tiny and his skin was so dark! As we grew up together I later explained to him that I was vanilla ice cream and he was chocolate. I’m sure he appreciated my explanation. 🙂

Well baby Scott grew up and this weekend he married beautiful Renee in their hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada. So yes, we took a trip to “sin city” and were so grateful to bask in God’s presence and enjoy His (HOT) creation there in the desert. We played and swam and ate and … danced. We toasted and celebrated and laughed ourselves silly.

We celebrated, and oh it was so good.

One of the parts of the Oregon Trail that has struck me from all our readings, was the account of one child telling of their day-to-day life on the trail. She told of how each night the would cook dinner over the fire, and then someone would bring out a banjo, or some other instrument, and begin to play. And of course someone would start dancing, and then the clapping and singing would begin, and they would laugh and dance and sing and clap by the firelight–not too late since they had to rise early in the morning–to enjoy a little celebration along the hard and rugged road to Oregon territory. Their days were so hard, so many lost their lives, and they all faced such tremendous difficulties along the way. It was critical that they took time to celebrate each day of life as they persevered on their journey.

Oh we must remember to celebrate as we traverse this life of faith.

I need this lesson, often. I am such a do-er. I so terribly geared toward efficiency.  Even yesterday, we had a 6-7 hour drive to Utah. My natural plan would be to go straight there–no stops. But my brother had discovered this crazy little waterfall and natural warm springs river, hidden away in the Arizona desert. It was a short but steep hike down to it, and it was 112 degrees outside.

We did it. All four Littles traversed the rocky hillside and we splashed around in that amazing hidden waterfall to our hearts content. It was thrilling, refreshing, and I felt so exhilerated when we came back to the car I felt energized for the remaining 4 hours of the trip. Later, Dutch said that the waterfall swim was the highlight of the whole weekend for him.

We must take time along the journey to stop, jump in the water, swim under the waterfall, dance our hearts out, clap, laugh, celebrate.

Could it be that Sacred Celebrations are really part of the journey? Part of what refreshes us, rejuvenates us, gives us fresh breath and joy for the journey? I will never for as long as I live forget the scene of my dear cousin Scott—the groom–dancing with Heidi and my niece Jennika. I will never forget the joy of our whole family out jumping up and down to “Shout!” and waving our hands above our heads, “Whoaaa–uuhhh-ohhh!” I will never forget how they laughed and chased the zig-zagging lights and fell into their beds exhausted and falling asleep with smiles on their faces.

Do we take time for Sacred Celebrations? We know from Scripture that God prescribed celebrations for the Israelites. Times of feasting, celebrating, laughing, resting.

Why do we think that celebration is less holy than solemnity? Surely there is a time for both.

So that is my lesson for today. I am grateful beyond words that along this long and sometimes grueling life of faith, that we are given the gift of Sacred Celebrations.

That we as pioneers can pull out a banjo, start clapping, and celebrate another day of life.

If we have been given life and breath, we have reason to rejoice.

Perhaps, just for a moment tonight, you might pull your wagon along the side of the road, and after dinner put on some music and celebrate, just a little. Laugh, smile, tickle your kids. Thank God for His generosity in giving you another day of life.

Enjoy a Sacred Celebration along the way.

{How do you celebrate life? Celebrating with you … Thanks for reading!}