Bright New Horizons

Hello!

Final exams are complete. The last paper submitted. The graduation stage crossed. 

It seems so unusual to finally be finished with my college work. The past seven years of my life, like a chapter in a book, are finished and I am pressing on into what this story holds. I am stepping out into something both old and yet new. As this is my seventh summer employed in the national parks, I am stepping into an arena that has become very familiar to me. This year I am employed at Yellowstone National Park working at the Old Faithful General Store. I have worked here for two summers before (2011 and 2012). Returning, I have reunited with some good friends from years past, and am reacquainting myself with the cyclic rhythms of Old Faithful’s eruptions, each one sending a new wave of tourists and shoppers to our store. 

Old Faithful

I have arrived earlier than previous years, and I am delightfully surrounded by snow. Nearly each day has held a new snowstorm that has blanketed the ground and melting quickly afterwards. Each day the snow recedes, urging me to capture these pristine moments before they thaw and the landscape transforms into summer. Despite the snowfall and wetness, my lips are still dried and cracked from the low humidity of this place. I already miss the greenness of the Willamette Valley, yet with only a short walk from my dormitory, the wilderness greets me with the excitement and attraction of its nearby geysers. Hardly a day has passed that has not been spent exploring these gems—each one a familiar sight to me, yet always astounding and humbling. I am overwhelmed by the intricacy of God’s creation as even the smallest detail lures me into prayer and contemplating the mystery of the One who would create such a place. 

Firehole River

In the midst of the old and familiar, this summer marks many new milestones and new opportunities. For starters, I am employed as an assistant manager—basically a manager-in-training. Upon the successful completion of this summer, this can open up new management opportunities in successive years in the national parks. I am entering a new level within the national park concessionaires. There is a lot to learn in the process though. I am already doing a lot of homework reading through the manager’s binder and being trained in all departments. There is much to learn, and this has been exciting and challenging for me. In addition to this, this is my first summer not volunteering to minister with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks (ACMNP). The purpose was twofold: as I now must follow jobs according to their availability, I have to remain flexible towards my ministry commitments. Furthermore, I am now pursuing a career with the National Park Service (NPS) with the hopes of becoming a park ranger. As I have volunteered for ACMNP over the past six years, I haven’t been able to pursue a park ranger position yet, and need to build my qualifications. So this summer I am trying to become a volunteer ranger and develop my qualifications. 

Crested Pool

Finally, this summer marks a new page towards my hopes of entering ministry as a writer. Without the presence of summer studies, I have been released to direct my energies towards practicing and developing my writing and photography skills. I am fresh to this sphere, so it will take some diligence and commitment to regularly practice. This summer also opens the opportunity for greater practice in spiritual disciplines in wilderness settings, learning to be still, listen, serve, and learn. Already I am seeing that such an ambition must be devotedly pursued; otherwise it will become consumed by distractions. Yet in the midst of this, I am praying that God will guide and teach me so that I can follow Him wholeheartedly in the journey ahead. 

Clepsydra Geyser

There is a lot of exploration to be done in the months and years ahead—both physically and spiritually. I am excited to launch into this summer participating in this journey of faith and learning. 

As this is a period of transition for me, this is also a time of transition for “Tobyn’s Travels”. As I start developing my writing skills, I am reimagining what this blog might transform into. Hopefully in the weeks to come you will begin to see this blog develop and transition as well. During this process, please feel free to contribute your thoughts towards this process, noting elements that are helpful, enjoyable, confusing, or bland. Part of this process is to learn from you, my readers, as much as I hope to share this journey with you—sending you messages and pictures of inspiration.

Old Faithful Inn

Blessings to you in the summer ahead! I look forward to sharing the journey and trail together.

Tobyn