This is Jamie.
Jamie met Marty as a student at Washington State University in 2010 when he was a campus minister with Impact. This was back before BEMA was a podcast; it was just a class where a few students met every week to learn about the cultural and historical context of the Bible. Marty taught that it was OK and even encouraged to ask tough questions and wrestle with the Text in community. Her life was forever changed by that beautiful BEMA community.
One of her favorite moments of the trip was at Susita, in the Decapolis, where Marty taught us about the demon-possessed man and how Jesus was willing to disrupt cultural customs to reach just one person. She relates a lot to this man and was encouraged to hear that Jesus loved him just because he existed. When Marty told the group to tell their story, she cried and was overwhelmed with gratitude for the people back at Washington State who got out of the boat for her.
There were so many memorable lessons that will shape her life for years to come. She will always cherish her time in the desert following the Shepherd. It reminded her of her own life’s deserts. Marty told them that we tend to be people of the eyes who get distracted easily, or torn down, by the world around us; Jesus invites us to be people of the ears, not to take the world as we see it but to quiet and still ourselves. A shepherd doesn’t lead with coercion, but with their voice. This was one of the firsthand experiences in the desert.
Jamie heard Marty talk about spiritual disciplines and how even just little investments can make a huge difference. She’s already been working on integrating those into her life since she’s been home. One of the spiritual disciplines she has found the most helpful over the years is her weekly sabbath day; even going through the stress of grad school, she is committed to this life-changing and life-saving practice. It’s not just the disciplines that she finds new commitment in — she is also committed to being shade for others in their deserts, bringing shalom to the chaos around her, and believing that God can do big things with her faithfulness.
