Have you ever just stood in a place in complete awe? It’s a moment you didn’t plan, but something there just takes your breath away. I’m noticing more and more that those moments that steal your imagination and your breath are hardly ever planned — they just happen when you get off the beaten path.
We decided to extend our trip in Utah by five days and tour the five National Parks there known as the Mighty 5. That would mean a park a day, but I knew we could do it. The internet is something else. You can google and find out just about anything you’d need. So our trip would follow a rigorous agenda of getting up early, driving a couple of hours to the next park, hiking and touring all day, visiting the small towns we’d stay in, then crashing. Then repeat the next day.
After a month of research and mapping out the best route to take, my husband and I set out to conquer the quest. I had read much about those beautiful parks, but I can tell you nothing was as grand as being there in person.
On our third day we were at the Capitol Reef National Park. We began our hike early. I couldn’t believe how different each park was although roughly in the same area — Utah. We were about a 1/2 mile into the hike when we saw signs that read, “Pioneers Wall of Fame.” I was so curious. Who were these pioneers? What did they do?
My mind immediately went to the Hall of Faith pioneers listed in the Bible in Hebrews 11. There were mighty men who had conquered much there. I know their stories or the part that’s told in the Bible. These Biblical characters inspire me daily — Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Moses, and Rahab to name a few.
But this Pioneer Wall of Fame — who were they?
Reading up on some of the area I knew that some of these men were settlers moving west and exploring the area. I can’t even imagine how difficult that journey must have been in a horse and buggy with limited water. On a solid rock plain, pioneers cleared trails to allow settlers, church officials, miners, outlaws, and others to pass more easily. As they began to settle, churches, schools, and barns had to be built.
But as we finally rounded the corner and I saw their names etched 12 feet high up on the wall of rock, my mind was captivated. There these men must have stood or stood on something and etched their names and date — some from the 1800’s. I had so many questions — did they think they were going to die and wanted to leave a trace of remembrance behind? Or were they etching their names as a victory record of what they had accomplished?
Elmer Huntsman, October 5, 1883. Was that the day he was born? Was that the day he died or the day he succeeded?
I wanted to know their story.
But whether I could trace them back to a story, the truth is they left one. Not just high upon the sleek red rock, but upon the hearts of everyone they knew. That story written upon the hearts of all the people they knew is truly the story that matters.
Some were Godly men, some outlaws. Some knew Jesus, some didn’t.
And I thought about my story.
One day my name will be etched in rock, low and close to the ground. My name will be there, as well as the dates. The day I was born and the day I died. And in between those dates is that dash.
That dash will tell the true story of my life. The dash will not care how many projects my name is on or how many books my name is embossed across. That dash will simply signify my life’s story. I pray that the story I leave will be more than my name.
Will I be known for having faith as Abraham and Sarah? Although Sarah laughed at the promise of God and tried to do things her own way, God still honored her in the pioneer hall of faith.
Or could I be known for believing God as Rahab? Rehab, a harlot, trying to make enough to house her family and relatives still found time to help the spies escape and God rewarded her.
And yet maybe, I’d be seen as Jacob – a born deceiver. Always lying to get ahead, but repented of his ways and followed God wholeheartedly. God called him faithful.
I hope I will be a faithful witness. The Hall of Faith pioneers give me hope as they weren’t perfect, but they were faithful.
Oh how I want my flawed dash to point solely to Jesus.
Your pioneer story.
What is the pioneer story you are leaving? Your name might be etched high as someone who has accomplished great things. And while that is mighty and most notable, what will matter most is the story you left impressed upon others hearts.
Only history will tell:
Did you leave a story that was sure to shine of your Savior Jesus?
Or did you leave a story that was to boast of your worldly accomplishments?
These questions I continually ask myself. And yes, the struggle is real to simply live shining for Jesus, because our world judges by accomplishments. However, I want to get this right because I want my name to be written in the most important pioneer book of all — the Book of Life!