What one will do in the name of Vanity! – by Gay Brook

My hair color was long overdue and with a flight to India less than a week away, I knew I had better get it done in Thailand. The only hair salon I had seen in rural Tamil Nadu, India, was a chair by the roadside and a Barber with razor in hand.

I asked a local Thai woman for a Salon recommendation and she sent me to Hair Décor, inside a huge mall where lots of ex-pats frequented. After much deliberation with 4 Thai (one English speaker) they began work. A little nervous to start, I prayed, then sat back and relaxed until all the highlights were in.

Having had 3 pots of tea with breakfast and now sitting for an hour, I had to go … you know where! I asked to use the toilet (the common term used for restroom in Asia). With big eyes, they stripped me of my gown and towels and pointed to opposite end of the mall. What, I thought … every Salon in North America has a restroom.

Now desperate, off I went out into the masses, laughing hysterically at myself. Boxing Day and Black Friday mall mobs, pale in comparison to normal day crowds in Thailand. Here I was, looking like a Martian with tin foil protruding from every other hair on my head, brushing shoulders with thousands. The funny thing was, no one gave me a look. This caused me to laugh even harder. By the time I reached the toilet, there was no need, I had already peed my pants from laughing so hard.

All in the name of vanity!

Brick Beds, Hard Heads & Tough Thinking

It’s hard laying down, hard falling asleep, hard when I awake. I’ve been thinking too much about it. I confess, “I am spoiled! I’ve become so accustomed to being comfortable; I’ve come to expect it.” Are they really hard as a brick? It’s all a matter of perspective…But, from my point of view, they are “Hard!” I could describe them as “Like box springs on the floor covered with a sheet”. Reflecting on it, I am all too comfortable, being comfortable. I’ve learned to like King size beds, with box springs on bed frame, foot high mattress, topper, bed pad, Egyptian high thread count sheets and down pillows. My perspective is based on “comfort”, living in America 70 years. So, the bigger, or deeper, question is really not about beds. “Is it hard for me to “give up comfort?” Thinking about THAT! If the answer is “yes”, then I am hard headed, too stubborn to change. And, if I’m hard headed, I’m probably hard hearted too, lacking compassion for the less fortunate. Ouch! Ironically, Gay and I facilitate a workshop for college students called “Pathway for life”, where I emphasize the importance of attitudes. I say “Our life altitude is determined more by our attitude than by our aptitude.” And, I also emphasize “Attitude Adjustment is King. It is important to recognize when change is needed, especially when it comes to our attitude. Our personal growth and development is directly related to our desire to learn and grow, or a desire for continual improvement.” Convicted by my own words!!! There is no better time to adjust my attitude than today. It’s time for a paradigm shift. I began this Blog thinking about brick beds, which led to reflecting on my hard head and tough thinking. This led me to a new awareness, confession and repentance. I decided to change my attitude and now recognize that change is hard ONLY if I’m “hard headed”, stuck in my perceptions and current thinking. So, what is the way out? How do I change my thinking and develop a new attitude?

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the strength to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” I can always change my attitude, it is a choice. I’ve learned my attitude always changes when I think about the Cross. Jesus chose to sacrifice his body for me, so that I may be restored to a right relationship with God and live eternally with him. Jesus’ attitude, while enduring human agony, was shown with his dying words, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Words of forgiveness, mercy and grace have transformed me from “hard headed” and prepared me for more “Reflections on the Road”.

“Reflections on the Road” – The Passion for Reflecting

Why is it that I reflect on life more when I am “on the road”? Is it that ordinary living has distractions? I don’t know why, but I have long enjoyed times of reflection, even long times of silence and solitude.

My first experience was at the age of 12, when I was “tapped out” from a Boy Scout Jamboree to become inducted into “The Order of the Arrow”. I learned in 24 hours of solitude and a vow of silence for even longer, that I enjoyed a quiet peace. A year later, on a leadership course at Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico, my favorite time was a three day solo survival hike, carrying no supplies.

After I began daily running at the age of 39, I enjoyed long solo runs. The times I ran with friends were fun social connections, but solo runs were spiritually rich. They seemed to stimulate creative thinking and clarify life priorities. Solo runs of one to two hours became a daily habit that lasted for ten years, supplemented by alternative solo bicycle rides.

During this time, I loved to ponder questions and seek answers to both personal and business problems. Somehow, creative solutions seemed to come from wisdom I could only describe as spiritual. This led to spending more and more time in different forms of silent solitude, seeking spiritual growth through meditation. Remembering and reflecting became a passion.

After my son’s death in 1989, the spiritual questions increased. What is the meaning of life? Why did Ron die and why do I live? Who were the key people in my life and what did I learn from them? What were key turning points and defining moments? Looking back on my life to “Connect the dots”, as Steve Jobs described in a 2006 Stanford graduation speech; reflecting seemed to help me see the significance and development of otherwise seemingly random circumstances and relationships in life.

This resulted in some amazing spiritual experiences which I could call “Miracles on the Road”. Many were on those long solo journeys of ten years ago – hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, bicycling 50 States & 10 Provinces, kayaking the Sea of Cortez and the Inland Passage. I will share these stories in future Blogs.

“Reflections on the Road” by Ray Brook

Beginning a series of Blogs by this title, as we reflect, looking in the rearview mirror of life “on the road”. “The Road” has a double meaning. First, it represents this journey, traveling the globe on a new mission in our lives. Gay and I “hit the road” September 7, after feeling this past year, “We are called to go……to the uttermost parts of the world…to make disciples and to help college students discover their destiny.”

Second, “The Road” represents the greater journey, called life. So, the purpose in this Blog, while traveling or “On the Road”, is to share our thoughts about our life experiences (the Road of Life). Some could be called “Lessons from the Road” because what we learn has future application for us, and perhaps for you. “If we don’t learn from history we shall surely repeat it.”

From where I now stand, looking back at the 70 years in my life, 20% of all the truly significant events happened when I was 48-60, while 80% were in these past 10 years. Significantly, perhaps 50% of these life transforming events occurred in the first three years of this millennium. None were before the age of 48. Furthermore, I am filled with hope for the next 10 years, expecting they will be my most significant years of contribution. I look forward to “Reflections on the Road” as a way of sharing some of the truly significant events with you. Some could be called “Lessons from the Road” as I learned more in three years “On the Road” than the sixty prior years. These were “The Journey Years”, hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, Bicycling 50 States and 10 Canadian Provinces, kayaking the Sea of Cortez and the Inland Passage. Some events could even be described as “Seeing Miracles on the Road”.

May this Blog be an encouragement to those who have not yet reached the ripe years, and even to those who are mature in years, and in faith. Consider reflecting: What are the truly significant, life transforming, events in your life? What were the turning points and defining moments on the road?

“HOMELESS IN CHINA” by Ray Brook

Our condo finally closed escrow today, so we are officially “homeless”. Our home is now wherever we are. We are in Inner Mongolia, China. It doesn’t really feel like home, more like sleeping in a tent on a journey. We know home is our eternal destination, but God has plans for us before we go home, plans to prosper us and not to harm us. Hard beds here are much like when I slept in my little one man tent, with a Thermo Rest under my sleeping bag. Firm is an understatement. But, we need to get used to them because beds in India are much the same. Beds throughout history were probably hard, except for Kings and Queens. Yes, most of us live like royalty but don’t think about it. Hard beds are not to harm us, but to prosper us? That’s something to think about. Perhaps to make us reflect and be thankful.

When God called Lot to leave Sodom & Gomorrah, he said “Don’t look back.” I am reflecting on how hard it must have been because I am looking back on my life a” Lot” these days. It is a time of reflection, of “being transformed by the renewing of my mind so that I may discern God’s will”. I have peace in knowing I am in God’s hands and His will be done. He gives me peace in the midst of the chaos which surrounds me. It also gives me much joy and peace to reflect on all God has done in my life, especially these past ten years since I was reconciled to Him. Thinking, reflecting, remembering and journaling –these are favorite activities for this “Summit Seeker”. So, I will continue writing and sharing my reflections on the road. Ahah!

Perhaps that is a title for my Blog, “Reflections on the Road”.

No Car, No Keys, No Home

September 6, 2011 – As we departed home, friends George and Marilyn Duff drove us toward the airport, where we would spend the night and depart for China the next day. I suddenly had the realization “This is the first time since I was 15 years old, I have No car. The first time since I was 10, I have No keys. The first time since I was born, I have No home.”

It is both an empty feeling and a freeing feeling. Yes, we are “homeless”, which feels very strange. Our North American culture places a high value on home, cars and the accumulation of material things. But our life values have changed so much that we actually feel a new sense of freedom as we go to travel the world to make disciples, teaching them all that we have learned through our lives. We know God has called us to go and we feel excited about the journey ahead.

We returned home from India in February, knowing the workshop we developed at St. Antony’s College helped students discover their destiny. We felt it could be effective anywhere in the world and we wanted to follow the dream God gave us to spend the next ten years, perhaps the rest of our lives, travelling “the uttermost parts of the world” on a mission to help college students.

We decided to sell our home, our cars and most of our possessions. Gay wanted to save some treasured items and we both had challenges “letting go” as we sorted through what we’ve accumulated. We sold, donated and trashed as it became clear what we really need to take with us. The difficult question was what to save in storage since we don’t know if and when we will ever settle down again. It wasn’t easy but now it is finished.

We were blessed by the helping hands of many friends. Our condo sold three weeks ago and will hopefully close escrow in a few days. The new owners have become friends and generously donated the condo storage unit for us to use until next July. Then, we should be able to sort through what we left behind with a new perspective. We have learned again “letting go is hard to do”.

Ray