Soul Searching Adventure Found Here

Soul Searching Adventure Found Here?

I recently saw an advertisement for a “women only soul-searching trip to the Himalayan mountains.” Yup, you read that right, a women-only soul-searching trip to the Himalayas.  I was confused.  Why would a woman sign up for this?  It is very expensive.  You travel with complete strangers.  AND, apparently riding a bus through the mountains somehow qualifies as a spiritual experience.

As I thought about it though, I realized this advertisement highlights what many women are looking for.

 

“Women only”

There is safety in familiar relationships.  Women understand the things that all women experience – biological things, relational things, even sin things.  We want to feel secure in our relationships, so we often seek people similar to us because similar is familiar and familiar is safe.

 

“Soul-Searching”

Women want a deeper meaning.  Everyone wants to matter. Women especially.  Women want to know why they are here, what their purpose is, and how to make sense of this world.  So, we look for meaning in our family roles, our workplaces, and our volunteering.  We find identity in what we do because it is easier than knowing who we are.

 

“Trip to the Himalayan Mountains”

Women want something more.  Let’s face it, for many women life can be mundane.  We go through the same motions of the same routine day after day after day.  We yearn for excitement and beautiful places that will inspire us and motivate us to do more.

 

Not many of us will sign up for a women’s only soul-searching trip to the Himalayan mountains, but I think many of us search for these same things:  relationships, purpose, and something more.  And in Jesus, these are truly found.

 

True Safety in Relationship

The best, most life-giving, never-let-you-down relationship you’ll ever have is with Jesus.  As Tozer said, “Jesus Christ knows the worst about you, nonetheless, He is the One who loves you the most.”  Nothing will ever separate you from His love (Romans 8:39).

And the love of God also gives us the Church – not to give us perfect friends, but to give us people who love each other, practice grace, carry burdens, and listen to each other.  When our first relationship is Jesus, we’re free to give love and grace to others – even when they let us down. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

 

True Meaning

The only thing that brings meaning to this broken world is God.  By knowing the good news of the gospel we see a patient Holy God, a rebellious people, a rescue mission to redeem people, and a grand battle ending with God being worshipped by all nations. (2 Peter 3:9)   Knowing this gives us the ultimate purpose: to love the world and preach the gospel. (Matthew 28:19-20)

 

Something More

We long for the day there will be no more tears, when all the injustice and hurt is gone.  This day is coming, and in it, we will be worshiping at the feet of our King Jesus.  The beautiful thing is, in the meantime, we get glimpses of what is yet to come here on this earth.  The beauty of a new life.  The glories of nature.  The joy of seeing lives redeemed.  The satisfaction of love.

A life with Jesus may not take you on a soul-searching trip in the Himalayas, but He will bring so much more.

Laura Faltynski

Six Responses to “Soul Searching Adventure Found Here?”

  1. So true. Great article. Reminds me of the words to an old chorus we used to sing. “Jesus is the answer, for this world today, above Him there’s no other, Jesus is the way.”

  2. I’ve always found great depth in the GCW Ladies Retreats in the Rocky Mt District and look forward to the next in Bozeman. I’ve lived nearly 3/4 of a century, nearly 1/2 a century with my best friend in marriage, all my life in church on Sundays, 35 years saved and finding a home with Polson Alliance. After a turnover of 8 pastors and their families in those years, I am thankful to be totally dependent on the Lord and have joy in the midst of living through all kinds of stress the world, and the church can experience. Women who have really been on a “soul search” can be trusted with the heart, listen, apply, and serve where they are called, and become more flexible as the road bends, rises, falls, twists and turns. I wish more of the really hurting women in our churches could get on the bus to the Himalayas this year. It is my prayer for the conference.

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