Shrine Mont Hotel, located in Orkney Springs, Virginia, in the Shenandoah valley, is a perfect get away; a beautiful, tranquil place, surrounded by majestic mountains. You hear the birds singing; you feel the soft wind blowing across your face; you see the flowers blooming on the almost 1000 acres of land in the Spring; the grass is deep green, healthy and welcoming to sit on, relax, and have a picnic. The water creeks surrounding the property make it all the more gorgeous. A great hide away.
With all its beauty, tranquility, majestic mountains, and the well-maintained lawn, Shrine Mont can frustrate the person who is dependent on a cell phone. I have seen countless times, yours truly included, when students who come here for the purposes of a retreat, have tried to make calls to their families while on the Shrine Mont property, but to no avail. One will either have to walk or drive 2 miles to the Bryce Resort to get a signal or hike up a mountain, or the outdoor cathedral, located on an incline, a 5 minute walk, to get a signal. What is even more interesting is this: If you leave your cell phone on, the battery drains so quickly because the phone is searching for a network. It takes about three days for my phone to have a low battery, with my going back and forth texting or talking. Shrine Mont shatters the record. My battery can drain within two hours without texting or talking, but because the phone is working so hard trying to find a network.
The cell phone DNA is such that it only operates in conjunction with a network company. These networks insure that there are network towers to transmit signals all across the nation in order for the phones to be functional. Without the networks and towers in place, we can forgo the concept of cell phones. Even the most sophisticated, high-tech cell phones will not work in a place like Shrine Mont, unless you leave the premises and find yourself a location that can pick up a signal from nearby towers.
When I think about finding our networks and towers, I am reminded of our creator, God the father. In Genesis 1: 26, 27, God declares:
“Let us make man in our own image, according to our likeness. God created man in His own image. In the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
So here is God, as a manufacturer, implanting the DNA in humanity that will allow them to function at their highest level. The DNA is such that humanity will have to be in close proximity to the network (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). The towers (abiding presence) are around us as we travel on this journey called life. The network does not change in the Kingdom, but the network has provided towers on the highways and byways to be in constant communication, as we stay connected to the network.
The disconnect comes into play when we leave the network and there are no towers in sight to transmit the much needed signal to communicate. When that happens, we then begin to work in overdrive because we are now disconnected from lines, wires, specs, in short, our kingdom DNA that make us function. We drain easily and eventually burn out. We can recharge our batteries (short lived “revival”), but for as long as we are not within the network limits and its towers, the cycle will continue. What’s the point of even charging the phone if one knows they will not even get a signal for as long as they choose to stay in the environment that does not provide the network?
What disconnects us from the heavenly network? Could it be that what we watch or listen to is cutting us off from our network? Could it be that where we are working is not the place where God would want to work, and the more we fight to stay there, the more we are in overdrive and draining so quickly? Could it be that the relationships we are in are draining us because they are cutting us from our kingdom network? Could it be that it is just us? No one to blame, no work to blame, but us? Because life has dealt us with so many disappointments that we have consciously chosen not to stay connected to the network because we felt let down so many times and now we question why we have to trust a God who has disappointed us? Not a bad reason not to trust God and stay connected to His network. I wish I could leave it at that, but I cannot.
In John 10:10, Jesus states, “The thief comes ONLY to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
The Psalmist declares in chapter 138:8, “The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of your hands.”
This communication comes from the network of heaven. He knows and He understands. When we feel let down, when those relationships are draining, when life seems unfair, the heavenly network understands. But they are also encouraging us to believe in them as they declare, “I will never leave you nor forsake” (though we feel forsaken). “Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you (even when we do not feel like casting our cares on Him). “I know the plans I have for you” (even when we think God has missed it all). He is not afraid of where we are because He understands; He created us and nothing can faze Him.
We cannot afford to lose our signal with our heavenly network; not when the world is screaming a different gospel, a different lifestyle, and a different way of communication. It is imperative to stay connected to Him because He has the words of life. The SIGNAL.
How do we stay connected to our heavenly network for that special signal. It’s simple-abiding in His word even when we do not feel like it. Praying even when we feel like God is not paying attention. Not forsaking the meeting of believers so that we can be encouraged always.
Shrine Mont, with all its beauty can be frustrating to a cell phone user. Much frustration, with detrimental eternal consequences is not finding that signal with God.
It is always a joy to see the students drive down to the resort, or hike up the mountain to try and find that signal and come back beaming because they were able to connect with their loved ones. I can only imagine what God feels like if we become intentional in seeking Him out till we find Him? A smile on His face maybe? I just wonder.
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