Missing the Forest for the Trees

I have a tendency to look down while I hike.

This is not inherently a bad thing, of course. I am on the lookout for things that might trip me up, like a tree limb or a moss-covered rock.

I noticed, however, that in the wake of my ankle injury some years ago, my focus while hiking was almost completely on the terrain of the trail. And for good reason. I did not want to do anything that might reinjure my ankle or bring about such excruciating pain.

Not surprising, then, was my laser focus on the root sticking up on the trail, or the suspiciously deep leaf pile. Now, that’s an interesting design—is it a snake? Is it a copperhead? There’s a significant step down. Watch your step. There’s a significant step up. Look for a handhold.

Yes. It is safe to assume that my hiking trips have—for the most part-- been free of injury and harm. But they haven’t been particularly enjoyable hikes, either. I placed so much emphasis on the path that I had missed the journey. Absent were the towering trees, the birds, the views and the vistas because I was so focused on looking down.

I have a tendency to look down while I live.

This is not an entirely bad thing, of course. There’s much to pay attention to in this world. If one’s not careful, you’ll miss the due date on that bill, or fail to notice the clogged gutters which might lead to a damaged ceiling. The mundane details and demands of everyday life rightly get our attention because that’s how we get further down the path, correct?

So, we move forward with our heads down. And for those of us who have experienced any significant injury along the way, we remind ourselves that we won’t let that happen again. When trust has been damaged, we tighten up. When our hopes have been dashed, we limit our gaze. When we have been victims of tragedy, we are constantly on guard.

And for the most part, our attention to the topographical dimensions of life preserves our sanity and (mostly) ensures that our journey forward will be relatively painless. But at what cost? Our children have graduated and left home, and we are filled with regret for the moments we missed because our focus was down, not up. Time passes so quickly that we catch ourselves longing to replay key moments from our past. At some point we will wish that we had stopped to look up, to savor our place in life, to be grateful for the gifts God has given us. We spent our journey focused on the ground, and we sacrificed contentment, passion and joy along the way.

Balance is an important course-correction because we know that life requires looking down and looking up. But before we can get to balance, we must first deal with awareness. Are we even aware that we are missing so much as we travel along the path?

A while back I tried to force myself to look up and around instead of focusing so intensely on the trail. I’m embarrassed to report that I was breathless at what I saw. The angle of the sunlight through the trees spread a delicious warmth in the mountain cove. A deer stood motionless on the ridgetop. An eagle circled the rocky outcropping ahead on the rising air currents. The autumn leaves shimmered and glowed.

And as for my feet? They never missed a step.

A while back I tried to force myself to look up and around instead of focusing so intensely on the demands and details of life. I’m embarrassed to report that I was touched by what I experienced. I laughed more. I was grateful more frequently. I saw God at work in mysterious ways and in dynamic places. I loved more deeply. I lingered longer in conversation. I was more gracious with myself and with others.

And as for my steps? Strangely, I never lost my balance.

Psalm 24
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it;
for he has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the rivers.
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
and do not swear deceitfully.
They will receive blessing from the Lord,
and vindication from the God of their salvation.
Such is the company of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is the King of glory?

Communion in Worship

Please join us in celebrating the ordinance of communion in worship this Sunday, January 28th.

Welcome Lindsey Faulkenberry!

Lindsey Faulkenberry joined the church on Sunday, January 21st by Profession of Faith. We look forward to her baptism in the coming weeks. Please join us in welcoming her warmly to our church family!

M&M Ladies Event

Hospitality Table Volunteers Needed

We have some openings for the Hospitality Table in March and April. If you are interested in hosting the table, please contact Sherry Maney (smaney@yahoo.com). Thank you!

Charlie's Challenge

Book Drive for Appalachia Mission

Dear Fellow Members of First Baptist,

The gift of reading can be a powerful tool for any child.

However, for those who live in poverty, their resources are slim, as are the schools and parents that support them.

We are starting a book drive to support Scarlette Jasper and Paula Settle, The Baptist Missionaries in Kentucky, who are supported by WMU.

Our thought is that most of us will be visiting extended family and friends this month for the CHRISTmas Season.  Many of these people may have children’s books (Ages 3-17) that are simply sitting on the shelf and no longer being used.

We are thinking it would be wonderful if they would donate these books to this Mission.

Also, Dollar Tree has some terrific books for the youngest readers.

Our goal is that no one needs to spend a lot of money, or any money, to participate!

This is the start of our Children’s Books for Appalachia Mission.  We are looking to collect books for children ages 3 to 17.   There is a bin in The Loving Kindness Room located by the elevator where you can leave your book donations. 

We feel confident that we can reach our goal of 1,000 books by the end of January 2018, with your help and God’s Blessing.

Gratefully, Diane and Charlie White
 

UPDATE: We now have 612 books! Please continue to help us reach our goal of 1,000! 

The View From Croagh Patrick

Although it tops out at only 2,500 feet, it is still an impressive mountain.

It’s called, Croagh Patrick.

Located on the west coast of Ireland, the cone-shaped, rocky mountain is rich in history and legend.

Historical evidence has revealed that the summit was once a frequently visited location for pre-Christian pilgrims. A ring fortress, encircling the summit, was discovered that may date back hundreds of years before Christ. Additionally, the remnants of a small, stone building—called an oratory—has also been discovered there, and most scholars have linked it to the age when Christianity swept across Ireland. It is likely that the stone enclosure was a place of retreat for early monastic Christians.

Less certain is the connection that the mountain has with the patron saint of Ireland--St. Patrick. As the story goes, St. Patrick spent 40 days on the mountain for a Lenten ritual of fasting and prayer. Furthermore, it is widely believed that St. Patrick banished all of Ireland’s snakes from atop the summit.

Because of this history, and out of devotion to St. Patrick’s Christian witness, nearly a million individuals hike to the summit of Croagh Patrick each year. ‘Croagh’ means stack, hill or mountain. It is a pilgrimage site where the faithful from around the world journey to immerse themselves in a wilderness experience as Jesus, himself, once did.

Like the path we trod in our daily lives, the pilgrimage hike to Croagh Patrick requires a significant investment of time and energy. It is not an easy ascent. The most penitent hike the trail barefooted.

Although it is unlikely that I will hike it without footwear, I plan on reaching the summit of Croagh Patrick sometime during the first week of March. I will be in Ireland for a week doing research on the history of the Church in Ireland—often called Celtic Christianity--for my Doctorate studies.

My first semester at Campbell University Divinity School this fall exceeded my expectations. As many of you are aware, I made frequent trips to Buies Creek. My classwork consisted of readings, presentations, dialogue and debate. As my grades will attest, I’m proud to say that I have successfully removed the cobwebs from my academic skill set and have a good strategy in place as I make plans for my Doctoral project, or dissertation.

This semester, my time at Campbell is cut in half. Instead of eight trips, I will only make four. My class load is the same as the fall, but one of my classes is an advanced elective. In addition to the exegetical class I’m taking in Buies Creek, I am working with a faculty member to design a class that will serve as a building block for the project that I will execute in the fall of 2019. I have crafted this independent study so that I can do a historical examination of the early Church in Ireland from the 5th to the 10th centuries. As my readings are already making clear, there are things our modern church can learn from the Celtic expression of the Christian tradition.

I will be using my week in Ireland this March to help me to see, touch and feel the legacy of Christianity in a unique and fascinating context. I will visit the ruins of ancient churches and monasteries, see the Book of Kells at Trinity College in Dublin and peer out on the western plains of Ireland from the summit of Croagh Patrick to where the Saint first began his evangelical pursuits.

When I return, I will be sharing with you what I’ve learned about the origins and legacy of Celtic Christianity. I will be offering a three-week presentation and study—complete with pictures and firsthand recollections from my research trip—about the Church in Ireland in May. I look forward to sharing my interest in Celtic Christianity with you.

I am most-grateful for the chance to study and to be stretched both academically and spiritually. The cohort of colleagues that I am a part of has blessed me greatly these last months and has proven to be a source of encouragement and accountability. What I especially love, however, is that the Doctoral program is designed to be a blessing for the congregation that the minister serves. My studies and my project are all intended to help and encourage our church and the Church Universal.

So no, I don’t expect the hike up the face of Croagh Patrick to be easy. But I know I won’t be traveling alone. 

Wednesday Night Activities Canceled

Due to the weather conditions, we will not be having any Wednesday Night Activities tonight. All reservations for tonight’s meal, January 17th, will be honored for next Wednesday, January 24th. We hope you enjoy your snow day!

Introducing Darren Beebe, Pastoral Ministry Intern for the Spring

Darren Beebe will be a pastoral ministry intern with us this spring. Please join us in welcoming this seminary student as he seeks to learn and serve alongside us. 

"Joyous greetings, First Baptist Church of Sylva!  It is with great enthusiasm and gratitude that I introduce myself to you all as your pastoral ministry intern for the spring!  I am a divinity school student at Gardner-Webb University starting this month, so I am very excited to serve the Lord and learn more about ministry through hands-on experience at your church. 

I will be serving in a variety of areas in the church to garner a more comprehensive learning experience.  Having settled on an internship contract with Jeff that focuses on learning and serving, I will attend worship and Bible study with you all on Sundays and Wednesdays, and will disperse my time among the various classes and age groups.  Likewise, I will lead a few Sunday School lessons and Bible studies.  I will also accompany Jeff and other church members on a few pastoral visits.

Here’s a little bit about me:  I was born and raised in Boone, NC, but decided to attend the better mountain school in Cullowhee instead of that other school back home.  I graduated from WCU with a bachelor’s degree in history last semester.  There, I was very active in the Baptist Student Fellowship, serving in numerous leadership roles.  I attended Cullowhee Baptist Church for my entire undergraduate career, and interned with the pastors there this past summer.  It was these experiences in college that spurred my Christian faith to grow and aided me in discerning the call to ministry.

I am excited to be serving the Lord alongside you all this coming semester!  I look forward to getting to know the FBC family better. As such, feel free to come say hello if you see me around!  I am grateful to Jeff, the rest of the FBC staff, and the entire congregation in having me as your intern!  I can’t wait to serve and learn together!"

Grace and Peace,
Darren Beebe