Spiritual Journey of Rustic Steps
Rustic Steps. Forest canopy. Looks like portal to frontier adventure.
Proceed at your own spirit of adventure.
After a recent meeting in Charlevoix, I explored the Lake Michigan shoreline. Exploring new places is a Brugman trait gene I inherited from my father, who took our family on annual cross country camping adventures.
Two weeks. Every summer from 1973-1981. On the wide, ribboned highway and gravel roads. Mom, Dad, and three kids in a Ford Econoline van, toting a 1967 Apache pop-up camper. Our essentials included: three burner Coleman stove. Three gallon water jugs. Two Coleman ice chests. And one CB radio for Smokey sightings and road reports.
Most of the time we stuck to Dad’s planned road trip itinerary and AAA maps. But sometimes, Mom would find an off-road adventure nugget in AAA travel guidebook. Or, we would discover an enticing roadside sign re-orienting us on an off-road adventure.
So of course, a sign like this stokes familiar chord of going off course as a kid. Whether it was on family camping trips, or exploring ravine behind childhood home.
Today, signs like this remind me to re-mind my choices and actions. Mental adventures on subtle pathways-my nervous system. Rerouting mind to explore new career and creative trails, trusting navigating change and unknowns is both practice and spiritual pathway.
Rustic Steps invite me to reorient, and explore off-road adventures. A few of my major life adventures include: moving to Carefree, AZ in 2022, moving to Michigan in summer 2019, leaving California in 2019 after living there for 8 years, leaving corporate world for Nashville in 2000.
And in 1989, the most important life decision I made was foregoing a banking job in Chicago post college graduation. My mother was diagnosed with cancer that spring. My heart chose family life over the financial world. My investment in that choice has provided lifelong returns of personal and spiritual growth. Major dividends in faith and family.
I’ve enjoyed a lifetime of trusting God to help me choose the right path. Even if I can’t see the destination. I’ve learned to trust the rustic steps based on where my heart pings. Prayer is a powerful and accurate compass, helping direct my mind and heart. And trusting how God’s Divine Blueprint for my life unfolds.
Faith helps me proceed at my own risk AND take leaps of faith.
A life lived to one’s fullest potential requires both trusting blazed roads, and, spiritually bushwhacking new paths.
Be open to opportunities to spiritually bushwhack your life. Unfold the spiritual trail map- your Bible. Pray. Welcome and pause in divine rest stops. Trust your heart- the Soul’s compass. And, follow your Divine Blueprint.
What rustic step will you take today? Pray. Then, giddy up and yeehaw! No ifs, and, or ‘butts’ about it.
Need help navigating unknowns in your career, health, spiritual, or creative goals? I’d love to help you spiritually bushwhack towards your dreams and goals. More info here.