Photography by Wendi Poole
Last fall, my wife and I attended the Lodge, where speakers Andy Crouch and Sho Baraka invited us to consider how to stay human in a time of acceleration. How do we navigate a world of constant noise, speed, and pressure without losing ourselves along the way? I had been sensing this question stirring in me for some time.
On top of raising a family and leading a church, the modern life I have grown accustomed to was fueled by an addiction to distractions and a pace which was perpetually hurried. I know Jesus offers life to the full, but it would be through a narrow gate that the distracted, digital world cannot discover. During the retreat I felt an invitation from Christ to step into the unknown and go deeper into a life with God.
While walking the grounds, I met the artist in residence, and we discovered a shared affection for the writings of Parker Palmer. He spoke about what Palmer taught him, and I shared a metaphor from his book, The Hidden Wholeness, that has shaped my life.
Palmer suggests that the soul is much like a wild animal. If we wanted to befriend a wild animal, we would not do what we so often do with our souls. We wouldn’t crash into the woods yelling, “Come out! I only have five minutes—let’s make it count.” Instead, we would return to the same place, every day, quietly and patiently. We would sit under a tree in silence, watching and waiting in a posture of surrender. And if we did this long enough, perhaps one day, out of the corner of our eye, we might catch a glimpse of the precious wildness we seek.
I shared how deeply this metaphor has shaped my prayer life, and when I have prayerfully visualized this scene, the wild animal has always been a fox.
Later that evening, near sunset, my wife, Jen, and I walked to the art installation on site called Threshold. It is a large-scale, interactive art piece that spirals and turns, inviting the individual to walk through the exhibit. As the sun dipped behind the canyon rim, we walked up the hill toward the structure, and as we arrived, I looked up to see something unexpected—a fox. Startled by our steps, it turned and looked at us, then calmly and confidently walked forward, passing straight through Threshold.
Sometimes God speaks in quiet, hidden ways. Other times, God is not subtle.
I thought of that moment every day for months. That fox, an image of the soul, walking confidently through Threshold has become a gentle but persistent invitation from God: be still, gather courage, and go deeper.
Staying human in a hurried world is no easy task. But moments like this remind me there is a deeper part of me, created to know, love, and abide in Christ. If only I can be still enough to befriend my soul, perhaps I too can walk with God through whatever threshold comes next.
