Why "Shalom in the Wilderness"?

      You may have wondered how I came up with the name, "Shalom in the Wilderness."   It all began when Jack & Friede Taylor stayed with us.  They commented on how peaceful and restful our house is.  I told them I had always wanted to find a name for it so that I could embroider shirts to give to our guests, but so far, had not come up with one.  (One of our earlier guests, Melinda Fish, talked me into buying a Husqvarna Viking embroidery sewing machine, so I thought it would be great to have a logo. As a matter of fact, she also is the one who kept after me to start a blog.  I guess if you think about it she has added a lot of extra work to my life :o)—but so many extra blessings, too!)

       Jack said he had named his place on the ocean, "Shalom By The Sea."  He commented that this house definitely should have “shalom” in the name.  So I looked up “shalom” in our Strong’s concordance and discovered it means not only peace, but also completeness, soundness, welfare, safety, health, prosperity, tranquility, contentment, friendship with others, and friendship with God.

     Before we built our house, we had to make a road through the woods to the spot where we wanted to build.  To do this Country Guy and I walked through the woods leaving stakes in the ground so the man driving the bulldozer would know where to make the lane.  We have always called the section he had to come through “the wilderness” because the blackberry bushes and multi-flora rose growing there make walking very difficult.  The name, "Shalom in the Wilderness", seemed perfect!

      I asked my embroidery instructor to make an outline design—I think she called it ‘redline’--of our house from a picture I took, and then I designed a logo, which I embroider on sweatshirts to give to all who stay with us.

     A few months after I began doing this, I picked up my Bible.  It fell open to Ezekiel 34; verse 25 stood out:  "I will make a covenant of shalom with them and eliminate harmful beasts from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods." It seemed to me to describe our place in the woods and God’s intentions toward it, so I added this verse to the logo.

     As I was discussing starting a blog with friends, I said how difficult it seemed to be for me to begin.  My friend, Cindy, said, “You already have a name for it.,” and I realized I did.

     When I give the sweatshirts to our guests, I explain to them that as I make each shirt I pray for the wearer.   I bless them with shalom (peace, completeness, soundness, welfare, safety, health, prosperity, tranquility, contentment, friendship with others, and friendship with God) in their wilderness.    

    That’s my prayer also for the readers of my blog.  As you type in the address, or read the name, receive the blessing I have already prayed for you.  I pray, too, the contents of the blog will bless you and contribute to your shalom (peace, completeness, soundness, welfare, safety, health, prosperity, tranquility, contentment, friendship with others, and friendship with God) in some way through inspiration, humor, information and by reminding you that we share life and experiences together.

     I bless you with "shalom" in any wilderness you encounter!