Author: sagmoe

As we headed west to Yellowstone Park we had to make an unexpected pit stop in Broadus Mt. What? You’ve never heard of Broadus Mt on Hwy 212… Well, I hadn’t either until a line of thunderstorms carrying 60-70mph winds and golfball size hail made us think differently. Thanks to some friends that happened to be on the same road about 70 miles ahead of us. They called and said, “get off the road if you can and sit this out until it passes.”

Thanks to their call, we were able to miss the hail. In fact, we were off the road for about an hour before the storms even made it to our location. So we pulled out the slide on the camper, turned on the generator, and made some roadside dinner and watched wheel of fortune until it came. Once it came though it came with a vengeance! We pointed the trailer into the wind and rocked and rolled for about another 45 minutes until the storm passed. After about a two-hour rain delay we headed back on the road and made it to Billings where we tucked in with the big-rigs at Flying J and slept like rocks till morning.

This reminds me that in life, sometimes things don’t always go according to plan. But don’t forget or maybe you didn’t know “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” Psalm 46:1-2 (NIV) And Jesus also said in John 16:33 “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

What He means by that is, sometimes your life is not going to go as you may have planned it. We didn’t plan on driving until midnight just to get some sleep but we did. You may have not planned on that unexpected expense that drains your bank account but it does. You may not have planned on hearing your son has cancer at 30 but he does. You may not have planned for your long time marriage or relationships ending but unfortunately, they do. So what are you going to do? As a friend of mine has told me many times “it may not be the way you planned it but all you can do is adjust and drive on.” Those are great words when we so easily forget what is important in life.

Remember to make God a priority in your life so you have a refuge to rest in. Make friendships a priority so you can live in a community and especially remember that even though you may have to pull over once in a while unexpectedly, you can still enjoy those you are with and then get back on the road when the storm blows by.

Next stop Yellowstone

I would love to hear your comments and feedback as we do life together. Have a great day!

Today we are in Sioux Falls, SD. We are taking an exit off the road on our way to the farm and stopping at a rest area of sorts. We are using a few days to finish our organizing and finalizing what will make it in the RV and what is proving to be more painful, what will not be making the trip with us. This is a rest stop on the road we are on and it reminds me that we all need to take an exit off the highway for a rest area of life once in awhile.

I can remember as a kid when we were traveling on vacation, that a rest area was just a waste of time. I can remember thinking, “We need to get there!! Fun is what is waiting for us when we get there.” A rest area was just getting in the way and delaying my fun of being there. It wasn’t until years later that I recognized and even needed a rest area in my travels. Now I need a rest area to rest my tired eyes or to take care of another problem caused by to much diet coke or coffee. Either way, what I viewed as a problem or delay as a child became a much needed and cherished stop along the road.

Maybe that’s what you need today. To put on your blinker and take that exit to a rest stop for just a moment. Take a nap, play in the water, go for a walk with someone you care about or even just stop whatever it is you’re doing long enough to take a breath and gain a better perspective of life. Whatever you need to do, taking that much-needed time of rest is as important to your mental health as much as it is to your physical health.

Moses was given this command by God on the mountaintop to only work six days and rest one. Let’s give that a try in our busy lives. Work hard in all you do but then take a break and let’s see what kind of an impact it can have on us, our work, and our relationships. Remember, we are not stopping the journey we are just getting ready for the miles that are yet to come.

Enjoy the trip and don’t forget to pull off the road once in a while and enjoy the scenery.

Have a great day!!

Today is the day I wake up for the first time with an RV in my driveway. We will put all of the things that are most dear to us in their proper place and then drive away. Seems simple enough. Open, load, close, drive. But again, there is a perspective at play here. If we were just going for the weekend or a few weeks there are no emotions except anticipation, happiness, excitement, and joy. Now for me, those emotions are there but there are added ones like nervousness, sadness, and even a little fear.

Whenever we undertake something new there is a moment or even a season of hesitation. That is normal but we can’t let it freeze us in our tracks. In order for the movement to take place, we must get in the truck and put it in drive. As we embark on this journey of ethos we will encounter lots of emotions. Some will be easy and some will be hard. Webster defines ethos as this: “the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution”.

God created you for a journey in life. In the book of Jeremiah, God tells Jeremiah that he was created on purpose for a purpose, to lead the people of Israel. The Apostle Paul tells us to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

We are all influenced by our moral nature and beliefs. What are they? Who do they benefit? Where do they take you?

We are all on a journey, we all have an ethos, and my desire is for you to step out and step into what God has created you for. Start with your character, you can choose both how you treat people and how you do your job. Do a good job.

Get up, put it in drive and enjoy the ride!!

Next stop, the farm… Let’s plant some seeds and see what grows.

Well, here we are at step one of a new journey. The point where we step from everything we know, feel and do; to a step where almost nothing seems familiar. It’s that first step that really gets you. Let’s be honest, and I am no different. We love to know what we know. We love to be safe where we control the things around us. (by the way, we never really control the things around us we just tell ourselves that)

So, let’s take that first step in our journey of ethos and life. For me, it brings with it all sorts of firsts. Things like having a rummage sale, to sell all your treasures that have been gathering in the treasury. I know they are treasures because I would never buy things that are junk or I don’t need on purpose….then when most of our stuff is gone, we take what’s left and put it in a box (storage unit) that we pay others to watch to make sure when we come back they are safe. After that, we sell our home, our only place on the planet we can come to and can go inside without having to knock first. After that, we put a few last possessions into a fiberglass box that can go hurling down the highway at light speed as to make it to the most beautiful places God created. (At least that’s what I’ve been told) And if that were not enough, we do it with no jobs, no kids (for the most part), no permanent home or destination, and no set timeline to complete.

It all seems kind of crazy from one viewpoint; but, if you look at it from another viewpoint things start to look kind of different. We have a rummage sale and let go of those things that at one time seemed valuable to us but now they are things that get in the way and hold us back. Whether it’s stuff, a job, bad relationships, addictions or even a house, they can get us stuck and we find ourselves caught holding on to things that only take up space in our lives and hold us back from being able to move forward.

Taking on a new adventure of downsizing and being mobile are teaching us to hold on to the things that are truly important to us. The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 3:13-14 “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

So when you are feeling the push or pull to switch jobs, change homes or towns, or just deciding its time to try living a little different, it takes the first step to start down a new road. God wants you to pay attention to your ethos (character). You have a limited amount of time here on this planet so take hold of your life and step out to accomplish what God created you for. As the Apostle Paul said, “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received” Ephesians 4:1. If you don’t know where to start, just do the next right thing and see where God leads you.

Don’t be afraid of an adventure…..you never know where it can lead you! What has God called you to be?

Next stop, moving into the RV. See you soon

Thanks for joining me!

As I enter this journey of blogging, that really began long ago, I often wonder what the point is or why would I even do this? I often find myself thinking about what’s the point in my everyday life? And why does it matter what I do or who I am or even what makes my life any better or worse than it could be.

Character and Purpose are what make this different.

Some people like to think that life is all about them, and to a point they are right. God created you on purpose for a purpose. Not so you can just think about yourself, if that were the case then you become narcissistic, but instead it is so you can understand who you are inside, who you are doing life with, what you are going to succeed at, and who/what you are doing all this for. I would like for you to understand where you have come from and where you are going for the betterment of others.

Let me ask you a question. Why were you created? Or, Why do you exist?

If you can’t answer that question with purpose and clarity then this journey is for you. In fact, if you ask most people that hang around me they will say the two things I talk about most are “Why were you created?” and “What’s the why behind the what?” both are the basis of why I am on this journey to help people and organizations discover what their purpose in life is.

To catch you up on a little of my life. I was born in the midwestern state of South Dakota and grew up working with my hands in a family construction business my father started  and I worked with for 25 years. I then was inspired to leave that work and begin the work of vocational pastoral ministry where I have been for the past five years. During this time I can see how God has been shaping me for asking others the question “Why did  God create you?”

How do you know where you’re going if you don’t know what road your on? And better yet, how do you know if you’re on the right road? That my friends is the journey of Ethos.

I use a biblical perspective in my journey and want to help others understand that God has created you for a purpose.

As I write this, I am in the middle of taking a real step toward what God has created me for… To help others become. That’s it, I want to help you become who God created you to be. You can do it. Its part discovering who you are, part how you were put together, and part who you are going to do life with. I will promise you this, it’s a crazy fun ride to step out in faith to become fully who God made you to be.

Get ready, set, let’s go….

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.  -God