During the season of Lent, Sundays are not counted as part of the 40 days. Sundays are celebrations of the Resurrection, of new life. Since I am committed to write (and post) daily during this season, I am going to share a story today and next Sunday that some of you may not know.
Someone asked why I had chosen Learning Along the Way as my business name; it’s certainly a mouthful! The reason is not a short answer, unless I just say ‘it’s meaningful to me’ which isn’t much of an answer. I decided the answer to why “Learning Along The Way” would best come as the name itself, in a story learned along the way.
Like a narrow creek through the woods joining into a river, this story has a beginning, takes some turns, meanders a bit, disappears for awhile and pops up again just before pouring into its purpose of joining the river. I hope like a leaf on the surface you are carried along, enjoying the journey.
Sixteen years ago our family attended Mount Hermon’s Family Camp for the first time. The keynote speaker was musician and author, John Fischer. One of the days John shared his testimony and that included knowing Paul Stookey, of Peter, Paul and Mary fame. This was exciting to me for two reasons:
I started playing the guitar in 1969 because of music like Peter, Paul and Mary; and during my college years I had been asked on many occasions to play guitar and sing in the weddings of friends and the song requested again and again? The Wedding Song by Paul Stookey. I asked John if he still had contact with Paul and he did. I told him my excitement about his connection and he kindly gave me Paul’s email address. When we got home from the wonderful week of Family Camp I wrote an email to Paul Stookey, thanking him for his faith and writing such a great, worshipful song.
That was the extent of it. Me being me. An encourager. No expectations.
What happened a week later surprised me and profoundly impacted my life.
He wrote me back.
Personally. Specifically encouraging me. And he signed his email
Yours in the Mystery, Paul
What stood out to me in his closing was the concept of Mystery regarding knowing and following Christ. As a mom at home with a toddler and a school age son, I had the daily gift of naptime for my quiet time each afternoon. God used the afternoons in the fall of 1997 to open my ears to hear His voice personally through His Word in ways I had not experienced before. I studied and grew in my faith and knowledge of God more that year than any other to that point.
During those afternoons as the shadows lengthened, the air crisp with changing season, I asked the Lord if I might have a closing signature for my email; one that would point to Him without screaming I AM A CHRISTIAN and potentially closing off conversations with some who needed wooing and subtlety. So I prayed and let it sit. Not long after asking I was reading in Acts about ‘the Way’ and it occurred to me what my email signature could be.
Yours along the Way, Lisa
So that was it. My email signature with a meaning greater than ‘sincerely’. And the first part of my story of the origin of my business name, Learning Along the Way. This story is like a journey from creek to river. I will pick up next Sunday but ten years into the future from this point in the story.
Life is a journey. Each one is somewhere along the way. Join me here and we can journey together, learning along the Way.