E-Letters

Lewis & Clark: The Corps of Discovery

By Jeff Andrechyn
Sep 24, 2009

I had the pleasure to spend an enchanted weekend in New Mexico with my wife and close friends who have been God's wisdom of healing and restoration in my life. Our hearts were stirred under a canopy of stars with allies from around the country where we were reminded that, "Life is an exploration in God; a pilgrimage into mystery."

Jeff

Our inspiration for Expeditions of the Heart comes from the Lewis and Clark expedition to the westward, which Thomas Jefferson named "The Corps of Discovery". In 1800 when Jefferson became president, two out of three Americans lived safely within 50 miles of the Atlantic, but for Jefferson the west occupied his most visionary energies. He believed the future of the young republic lay across the Mississippi River.

Lewis and Clark set out in 1804 with 25 men to explore the interior, and locate the Northwest Passage. It was the ultimate adventure of discovery into a brave new world. Jefferson even wanted them to bring back an American Mastodon (alive if possible!).

At one point during the journey, Indians were warning the Corps of a "large aggressive bear" which of course the men "much anticipated" encountering one. When they finally happened upon a grizzly it took eight shots to fell the charging beast to which Meriwether Lewis said that his "curiosity had been sufficiently satisfied" and he no longer wished to see another!

The men that Lewis and Clark chose for the expedition had to be young because of the physical demands that would be required of them. Their inexperience created some problems for the captains in the beginning of the journey. The men fell asleep on guard duty, got drunk and contracted syphilis from the Indian women. There were times that Lewis and Clark had to resort to beating these men.

As the expedition progressed the dangers increased. They came across hostile Indian nations, treacherous terrain, and more grizzly bears. They soon understood that if they were going to survive they were going to have to work together. Everyone had a role to play and everyone was needed to posses and claim this land for the United States.

Part of the "discovery" was beginning to know each other as they navigated the Missouri River, walked ancient Indian trails, and talked around the fire at night. Eventually they knew who could run the fastest when a message need to be delivered, they knew who was the best shot should they be surprised by a grizzly, and they knew who could light a fire in the rain the quickest. They knew who coughed in the middle of the night, who took salt on their meat and who didn't, and whose footstep it was that approached their camp at night. They were on mission, traveling lightly, but with great purpose. They shared stories about their families, their hopes and dreams. These men developed such an affinity over time for one another that they would have gladly laid down their lives for each other.

When I think of the ultimate adventure of discovery I think of Jesus taking twelve men on a three year high-adventure camping trip. These men discovered that God was "way better" than they had ever imagined, and that His deep desire was to walk amongst them. Their most astounding discovery was the price He was willing to pay to accomplish that.

When I read the gospels or study the life of Paul I see men who traveled lightly but with great purpose. Men who risked everything; were hunted, but brought a kingdom of grace, healing, and wholeness to the lives they touched. These men were a mystery, they were unpredictable.

What happens to our faith when we no longer camp for the night but pour concrete and frame in our faith to a particular day and hour and stay there? What happens when adventure and exploration stop and we become content to work and worship in the shadow of our own homes breathing our own breath? What happens to a man does not gather the strength of the Corps he is part of and experience its power to help him walk the ancient path?

When the Corps of Discovery returned they received a heroes' welcome. Each man took his well-earned reward and went about living their dreams as best they could but... at night over candle lit tables, when the wine was poured, they talked about thier adventure. They talked about the time the grizzly almost got them, or the scenes of visionary enchantment they never knew could exist, or how they found their latitude one night by shooting the moons circling Jupiter. They told stories about the men who traveled with them beyond the point of no return and they inspired everyone.

Reading about the Corps of Discovery makes me wonder how my story will be written. Will you one day find my grave behind a church building or will my ashes be scattered on some distant hill never to be recovered leaving only a story... a story that a King would be proud to tell. A story of a group of men who found the coordinates to an enchanted land. A group of men who.....