Spiritual Homesteading

“The views were immensely wide. Everything that you saw made for greatness and freedom, and unequalled nobility.” A quote from Out of Africa, by Karen Blixen, but it works just as well here.

A recent Blank Slate brought a meaningful response from a friend I’ve met only once. It’s so well worded and gives such a love for this place, I asked (and received) permission to quote it.

For years I’ve had a secret petition to God that when He’s doling out dwellings for all eternity, that He reserve me a homestead near Grand Teton National Park. Both times when I was pregnant, whenever in Wyoming, I would pray that the well water and sediment would build in the inmost parts beautiful humans with deep connection to the West. Wilson, Wyoming on the west banks of the Snake River to Jackson has been my home on and off since 1998. I hope it will always be a touchstone in this life and beyond. Regretfully, I find myself in Minnesota with the children for the school year and won’t be back to Jackson, but briefly in November.

All of that to say, there are places we choose, and places that choose us. While reading Blank Slate, the past has been coming alive and beckoned to be seen again for what it was and what it is in you. In your writing/teaching/art, you’ve showed how the pioneering spirit thematically prevails throughout your life in work and play. Your blog about living–a weekly, gentle handed pastoring to others to take ownership of beautifying. Ownership of beautifying, isn’t that spiritual homesteading? Wyoming is in you. May you fully enjoy and release the blessings of being in Wyoming.

Thanks, Ashley. Certainly there are places we choose and places that choose us. Just like with our talents, our calling, and those things I’ve touched on of late. “Ownership of beautifying . . . spiritual homesteading” indeed.

We’ve just a few more days here. The painters workshop was well received. Since then I’ve rejoined Anne in art-making in the Peets’ studio. At Ashley’s recommendation, we toured majestic Grand Teton. And we’ve often ventured the half-hour drive into Jackson Hole. Besides other things, it’s a mecca for artists and art buyers—and this past week in particular, being their annual crescendo. I brought art to show, which received some favor, but not enough, there being so much here already.

It’s like with beauty, in certain areas there’s almost too much.

Yet, we keep making it. Art, that is. We don’t choose these things; they choose us.

Now, off to church with our hostess Marty Peet.

God’s another we thought we’d chosen, but in fact it’s we who’ve been.