So our small group is just starting to work through Eugene Peterson’s, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society.  I’ve only read the first two chapters so far; but have enjoyed it thoroughly.  The point that stuck with me the most from the first chapter introductory chapter was this:

In going against the stream of the world’s ways there are two biblical designations for people of faith that are extremely useful: disciple and pilgrim. Disciple says we are people who spend our lives apprenticed to our master, Jesus Christ. We are in a growing-learning relationship, always…Pilgrim tells us we are people who spend our lives going someplace, going to God, and whose path for getting there is the way, Jesus Christ.

I believe that keeping these two designations as columns of our identity would be of great help in daily life.  Discipleship speaks of apprenticeship, where a beginner will learn and practice under the guidance and example of a master.  I believe there is an intrinsic human need to learn and practice under the more experienced.  We’ve created schools, cultural traditions, coaches, etc all for the purpose of passing on knowledge, experiences, methods and wisdom to the next generation.  As the givers, we hope to keep future people from making our mistakes and as receivers, we hope to not make the mistakes of the past.  Pilgrims speaks of journeying in a direction with a goal in mind.  I believe this is also an intrinsic human need, to need purpose, a goal to work towards something that has not been obtained yet.

Unfortunately these human needs get twisted because of our tendency to want to shortcut them.  We buy books that promise to equip us in x number of days or we enter programs that promise results in x number of weeks.  We make our pilgrimage all about the goal instead of the journey.  But I guess the premise of this book, is that contrary to what society tells us everyday, discipleship and pilgrimage, what we want to learn and where we want to go often comes with a long obedience in the same direction.