3 Points to Ponder
- Most of us never consider starting a tradition until deep roots have been established and have evolved into something profound. What traditions in your life have a long, evolving history?
- The Impact Journey is long, and we all need mile markers along the way. What events provide stability, a sense of belonging, and something to look forward to in your life?
- When the familiar becomes invisible, we are at risk of losing something important. How intentional are you in holding to those celebrations, and what are the consequences (positive or negative) when they are neglected?
2 Quotes to Share
“We live in a world that values the new, the exciting, the cutting edge. But the human soul needs the familiar, the repeated, the things that remind us who we are and where we have come from.” – Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
“Tradition is not to preserve the ashes, but to pass on the fire.” – Gustav Mahler
1 Story of Impact
The brisk Thursday night air painted our cheeks rosy as I wrestled the behemoth – a seven-foot-tall ice-skate sharpener cart, its muraled sides a testament to years of artistry, its giant red wheels rumbling – out of the now-hushed Historical Village. Beside me is my radiant bride in her authentic Gelderland Dutch costume, her intricate headwear catching the faint light. This year marked at least my 42nd involvement in the Pella Tulip Time Festival. Childhood memories blur, making those first couple of Des Moines years a hazy maybe, but the decades since have woven this celebration into the very fabric of our family. We don’t just attend; we immerse ourselves – voices raised in song, wooden shoes clogging to the Dutch music, hands offered in volunteerism, and yes, indulging in the festival’s delicious food and sweet treats. Lately, immersed in the Old Testament’s narratives, I’ve been struck by God’s own embrace of tradition. Through Moses, He orchestrated poignant reminders of liberation from Egypt, and later, Jesus himself instituted the profound tradition of the Last Supper. These aren’t mere rituals; they are vital anchors, offering a necessary pause for refreshment and restoration on life’s relentless journey. They are familiar, anticipated mile markers on the journey to deliberately carve out from the everyday. In the whirlwind of important tasks and pressing concerns, the familiar can become invisible, a blur we rush past without the vital pause. And in that oversight, life diminishes, threatening to become unbearable. We are intrinsically built for these strategic pauses, these deliberate celebrations of tradition. In your life, I’m sure certain events transcend the mundane, becoming non-negotiable pillars of richness, recharging your spirit, and offering profound restoration. Have you stopped and taken an inventory of those traditions? Do those around you know the importance of them to your well-being? Don’t rush by these traditions or downplay the profound impact they have on your life. We all need a Tulip Time now and again.
