Driven Out

Now in those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River. And just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight.” The Spirit immediately drove him into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, enduring temptations from Satan. He was with wild animals, and angels were ministering to his needs. (Mark 1:9-13 NET)

Yet Jesus himself frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed. (Luke 5:16 NET)

Then Jesus went out and made his way, as he customarily did, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He went away from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed. (Luke 22:39-41 NET)

From the beginning, throughout His career, and right up to the very end, Jesus went out away from people, into a more natural setting to be with His Father. More than once, He led His disciples out on an extended retreat to get away from the hubbub of the Temple. While there is no doubt He used the symbolism of things in the Temple, He knew that it had long since ceased to be His Father’s house. So He met His Father often in nature.

Lately I’ve felt myself driven outside. I used to keep a prayer journal. At one time it was paper and pencil. Once I got my first computer, I found the keyboard was the way to go. Only rarely have I ever read back in those journals, searching for the date of something I did or experienced. Mostly it was a simple matter of writing something every day. My heart knew writing would become a critical part of my ministry.

The use of computers, and years delving into Linux, Unix, Mac and Windows technology and networking — it was all just a tool. Now I’m at the point where it really won’t matter much what I use, so long as it offers a chance to do the necessary work of ministry communications. So I ordered a real keyboard for my tablet because I want to be in the place where the device itself is far less important, in an effort to commoditize computer use. I probably won’t give away my laptop until I get a much better tablet, but the die has been cast. It was always just a tool. Writing with pen and paper was never really wired into my head, but the keyboard is. It really doesn’t matter what the keyboard connects to, so long as it allows me to write what God says I must write.

My tablet is not a gaming or entertainment device. The music on it is entirely for worship. All the applications I’ve installed are aimed it enabling the things I have to do for the ministry. The laptop is still somewhat laden with stuff that’s about computer use itself, but the tablet is very trim and sparsely equipped. The former is still useful in the computer ministry, but the latter is for only communicating the gospel and keeping that mission organized. Yes, that includes access to news, but it’s more a matter of having a library in my pocket because I can’t possibly memorize everything I need to know.

I’m learning how to push all my documents into the cloud. The stuff that really matters will never be private, so it’s more a question of availability, not controlling access.

But the prayer journal has been replaced by prayer walks. I try to spend time at least morning and evening outside where I can talk aloud to God. If I am off in the woods working on the trail, I’m talking out loud to God. I’m trying to make sure the weather is no hindrance, relearning how to operate in all contexts, the way the military taught me. Instead of collecting computer hardware and software, I’m starting to gather outdoor clothing again. It’s been pretty cold for Oklahoma lately, so the prayer walks have been a challenge, because I don’t have the good military-grade stuff any more.

I don’t need another computer; I need winter coveralls.