Rough New Prizes

Counting down days to my trip! Tonight I pulled about six military MRE meals out of the freezer and started de-thawing them; can’t wait to blog more about those after I actually eat one. I had a few options in planning this trip that included hotel stays in the center of townships, nice restaurants, and maybe all the “relaxing” elements of a trip to the northeast – even offers to stay in the homes of family and friends in the area.

I’ve opted for something a bit more outrageous, but certainly something closer to my roots. A little two-man tent, a few campfires at night, and a little sideways-tilted chemical cooker packed with dehydrated calories and some mysterious crystals that when mixed with water form something called “Base Beverage Powder,” an apparent electrolyte enhancer. I suppose our military men and woman could tell me more about them, although this certainly won’t be the first time I have turned to an MRE for nourishment. Seriously though, are dehydrated meals self-care?

I do wonder how it is I’m able to refer to my trip as self-care, when I am more or less subjecting myself to conditions and meals that will be less than comfortable. The truth is that I have always been terrible at self-care. This includes a lot of bad habits that need to be dropped precisely BECAUSE they bring comfort and ease. I’ve got to get these things sorted and put in order so that I can be the best pastor I can be.

“Roughing it” can actually be a source of self-care when it’s aimed specifically at a spiritual condition. This is also one of the reasons that Walden Pond is on my trip ticket. Henry David Thoreau once wrote:

“Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind."

I suspect this may be generally true, although I am certain that exceptions apply. It does seem to me that character is produced most efficiently on the other side of difficulty and that most of us pursue comfort over difficulty when given the chance.

Part of my journey has to be centered on questions regarding the comforts I need to select, the comforts I need to reject, and the wisdom to tell the difference between the two. I’m just not certain I can go all the way to the bottom of those kinds of questions in the comfort of a bed, anesthetized by a four-course meal and a couple of glasses of red wine.

I guess I’ll find out between “beef briskets” and crackers that have a six year shelf life. Yummy.

“Listen! I will be honest with you;

I do not offer the old smooth prizes, but offer rough new prizes;

These are the days that must happen to you….”

~ Walt Whitman