Last year about this time, I ordered a documentary film from Amazon. The documentary was directed by Ken Burns, and is on Meriwether Lewis and William Clark's expedition from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean--all by land, between 1804 and 1806. It's an awesome story, even more great that it's true, and is one of my favorites.
At the order of President Thomas Jefferson, Captains Lewis and Clark led a group of about 50 men up the Missouri River, one purpose being finding a river route across America. Ascending the Missouri, they met with Indian tribes, saw the endless Great Plains, and discovered its abundant wildlife. The captains recorded 122 new animals and 178 plants never before described for science.
The Expedition wintered 1804-1805 with the friendly Mandan Indians in present-day North Dakota, where the temperature would drop to 45 degrees below zero. In the spring of 1805 they started off again and discovered new rivers, landmarks, and waterfalls. They were the first Americans to cross the Continental Divide, where waters run west. They barely crossed over the Bitterroot Mountains, and even ate their candles at one point. Snow and danger were their constant companions in the Bitterroots.
In the fall of 1805, they were the first of their nation to reach the Pacific Ocean by land.
But through it all, in the journals of the men a phrase was repeated: "....and we proceeded on."
Through the Great Plains, the sub-zero winters, the gigantic waterfalls, and the challenging Bitterroots, they persevered and "proceeded on." No matter what, they "proceeded on."
Recently when I was thinking about this I realized how close "proceeding on" had to do with our spiritual experience. Sometimes we are tempted to give up our faith. But we really shouldn't.
"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits...." --1 Timothy 4:1
If you're tempted to give up your faith, don't! Keep with it! Keep "proceeding on!"
No comments:
Post a Comment