The Map is Not the Journey: Faith Renewed while Hiking the Alps – by Richard Dahlstrom
Main Point:
In this wonderfully engaging book, Richard Dahlstrom shares insights that he and his wife gleaned before, during, and after their sabbatical journey through the Alpine mountains. In doing this, he distills the lessons he learned into three principles that served to help him with reentry into life back home. The principles are: Control is an Illusion; Transformation Happens Slowly and Passively; and, The journey is the Destination. He contends that not only is the “Map not the Journey,” but, the journey through the Alps was really “itself only a map – the real journey would begin on [his] return home…” (page 212). These three principles are serving to help him “rest in God’s goal of increasingly manifesting the aroma of Christ” (page 212).
Summary/Analysis:
In a personal reflection on his sabbatical journey through the Alps, Richard Dahlstrom shares the insights he gathered during this brief time in his life. He begins by describing the context of how he arrived at this juncture of life. He tells of the planning and preparation that he and his wife undertook, and reflects on the significance of each of the steps they encountered in their 400 kilometer trek through the European Alps. The mountains provide the backdrop for his meditation on various aspects of life’s broader journey. As he moves through his varied subjects, Richard shares specific entries from his daily journal that deliver illustrations of the points he makes.
He begins his book by describing the series of life issues that had prompted him and his wife to undertake their journey through the Alps. In this first section, he details what brought him to the place of needing to step back and take a necessary break, and the decision-making process he and his wife entered into as they went forward in planning for their trip. He describes the traps of outward success that he’s observed in his own life. He also highlights the significant roots of the decision he and his wife made to enter into this particular journey.
The second section details their preparation for the trip. In the first chapter, Richard explains why he found it so important for him to structure his sabbatical around action rather than living “inside [his] head” (page 40). He recognized the importance of “literal walking” to confront the “hidden stuff” that he needed to face in his life in order to facilitate important change (page 46).
In the next few chapters, Richard shares insights he gleaned from the process of planning and packing their gear. He considers the question of how much stuff do we really need to live lives “rich with contentment and beauty” (page 56). He also probes the issue of the place of planning and maps. He reflects on the utility of maps and other sources of information as helpful guides, but not as a replacement for actual experience. He reminds us of the “naked vulnerability” we experience in the midst of various encounters along our journeys that expose each of us to fears and discomfort that can lead to transformation.
The third section contains Richard’s description of their journey itself. It includes nine chapters which each describe an aspect of what he and his wife experienced, learned, or reflected upon along the way. In the first chapter, he observes how they adapted to what they encountered. This adaptation entailed a reaction to both their chosen environment and the environment imposed upon them externally. They chose an environment of movement; however, from within this environment they met much for which they had not planned or could not control. Richard indicates that these decisions (often not “big decisions”) consist of thousands of “tiny choices” (page 84) that affect our ability to adapt to situations. They include our choices about attitudes as well as actions. Ultimately, these decisions contribute to shaping the general environment for both ourselves and others by embodying hope, serving others, and living with “joy and generosity”… (page 92).
Next, Richard focuses on goals. He reminds us of the importance of not marrying our goals into perpetuity when he says, “Better to let yourself be blown a bit by the wind of the Spirit…than reach your goal only to realize that the mountain you chose to climb wasn’t actually intended for you at all” (page 99). He helpfully cautions us about the danger in buying whole-heartedly into the mantra that we can do anything or be anything in line with our ambitions. Instead, he reminds us of the limitations that all of us face. We need to consider these limitations honestly as we determine our goals. From this perspective, unmet goals function as a tool to “get us moving…” (page 103). He contends that more important than reaching our goals is “the choosing of our goals” (page 104). He concludes by reminding us that ultimately “the ‘mother of all goals’…” in accordance with the Apostle Paul’s message is “knowing Christ” (page 106).
In the following chapter, Richard provides an insightful comparison between the twin dangers of paralyzing fear and over-familiarity which “breeds boredom and mediocrity” (page 120). He reflects on how fear so often affects us in ways that paralyze us. It robs us of vitality, abundance, and wholeness because of our fixation on sin and judgment. Instead, Jesus’ promise that “I am with you” stands as a beacon of light to guide us through our fear. On the other hand, Richard also directs us to pay attention to over-familiarity in our spiritual lives. By losing our sharp awareness of the importance of living in the moment and being open to the joy of being “all-in” on our lives, we miss out on the moments we’ve been given.
Next, Richard directs our attention to three issues: the importance of people, finding/extending shelter, and the importance of developing endurance. Each of these helps to open us to the many lessons we all need to learn as we seek to become more like Jesus. He tells stories of his encounters with strangers during their journey, and how his approach and openness to others differed from that of his wife. He describes the benefits he received when following her lead in these encounters. Rather than staying isolated, he shows that finding/accepting and offering/giving shelter from the place of humility “is the first and best thing we can do sometimes” (page 146). However, in order to be in a position to engage people well and offer/accept shelter, we must have the endurance to take the journey. On both a “trek” and in the life of faith, doing the necessary work of training is critical. We must be able to put into practice the principles behind the training. Trusting belief (faith) is involved in both endeavors. However, as we go about this enduring work, Richard makes it clear that gratitude and engaged presence are keys to living well.
Finally, Richard takes his readers through an extended four chapter reflection on some of the larger issues he noticed along with several related questions that he believes we all face in our life journeys. He highlights what he refers to as “the disturbing movement that’s afoot in our world…our lust for control, for safety, for protection” (page 173). Coupled with that “disturbing movement” is our world’s tendency to confuse the more inward marks of wisdom with the outward signs of wealth and success. In contrast, the gospel message promises, not immunity from pain and difficulty, but “life-giving transformation right out of the ashes of what should have been catastrophic” (page 174). He asserts that “the most profound losses can become the soil in which the deepest eternal relationship can become real” (page 196).
For Richard, the key question is “[w]hen my body’s old, my job’s gone, my kid’s too busy for me, will God really be enough for me?” (page 184). He contends that the beauty of the gospel enables us to make decisions with “empty hands” that releases the future completely to the goodness of God (page 189). A helpful place from which to do this is one of solitude. Not simply a place of being alone, but from a personal place where we have “the capacity to distance ourselves from the prevailing noise of culture and the demands of other people enough that we become responsive to the inner voice of Christ instead” (page 197).
Richard concludes by sketching the primary lessons he learned during his sabbatical. He reminds us that “control is an illusion” (page 212). The future is beyond our grasp, yet we know that Christ will be with us, and that “is all [we] need to know” (page 214). In the midst of our journeys, “transformation happens slowly and passively” (page 214). This transformation is a mystery. Our job in this process is “soil care” which entails “leaning into the suffering that comes our way, and welcoming trials and challenges as a context in which Christ can be more fully shaped in us” (page 215). Though trials themselves are not good, he implores us to recognize that the true path for transformation “is the path of hardship” (page 215). Finally, “the journey is the destination” (page 216). This perspective helps to relieve much anxiety that surrounds our view of the future.
Appreciation and Strengths/Weaknesses:
At a time when many memoirs or personal reflections seem to contribute little to helping the world become a better place, this book by Richard Dahlstrom stands out as a wonderful gift that offers important insights. While describing his sabbatical, Richard continually draws the reader into new ways of considering how God would have us live in the midst of the circumstances we encounter along the path of our own individual journeys. Through a well-balanced process of revealing his own struggles from a place of vulnerability (without over-sharing), Richard carefully guides us through his own experiences during this important time in his life.
I found several elements in this book to be especially helpful. One of these is Richard’s physical approach to spirituality. Much of what is written about the spiritual life concentrates on how we think (which obviously is very important); however, I found Richard’s focus on the physicality of his spiritual journey to be refreshing. Yes, much of spirituality requires us to live in our heads. But I believe intentionally moving out of our heads helps to bring our spirituality alive.
Richard also asks important and probing questions that dive to the heart of his subject. I especially liked his section on goals. He prods us to examine the assumptions behind how we often set goals. His reminders of our many limits in this context, though not always sitting easily with a driven person such as myself, pushed home the importance of more freely trusting the mysterious workings of the spirit of God. When combined with his reminder that growth often (almost always?) comes through pain and difficulty, this book provided me with multiple insights for my own reflection on how I’ve changed or adjusted goals over time.
I found this book to be a wonderful companion to N.T. Wright’s new biography on the Apostle Paul, and Wright’s analysis of Paul’s journeys in the midst of trial and suffering. Both author’s (Wright and Dahlstrom) show the unmistakable pattern of God working through difficulties in our lives. They each make a deep connection between Jesus’ suffering and the aspect of being “in Christ” centered on participating in the suffering of Christ.
Finally, I have rarely found my interest in a reflective, memoir-type book to actually increase toward the end. The pace and intensity of the book pleasantly grows as the book moves along, culminating in the very well written and compelling last section. When I reached the end, I was truly grateful that Richard Dahlstrom chose to share the gifts of what he learned on his sabbatical journey in this transformative book.
Todd Rivetti 