Christian Living

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What I'm about to write will have you outdoorsy folks shaking your heads, pitying my failure to enjoy some of God's greatest all-natural gifts. Here goes:

I hate camping.

I hate setting up camp, breaking down camp and everything in between. (Except for roasted marshmallows.) Pup or pop-up, I'd rather not do tents.

Jesus, most likely, was a camper. Think of the mountains, valleys, beaches, deserts and wilderness blessed by the touch of His feet. With all that walking, I'm sure He and the disciples stopped to "make camp."

Had I been along, Jesus would have put me on the first donkey home. He might have added an eleventh commandment to the ten His father gave Moses:

Thou shalt not whine.

My first serious attempt at camping was bold: Alaska. Don't ask how this pedicure-lovin', lip-gloss-wearin' Georgia girl ended up in a forest in The Last Frontier. Trust me-been there, done that.

Alaska ranks as one of the most magnificent places I've ever seen, but I had issues with the signs posted in the forest we were camping in. "Caution: bears on premises."

Caution? Why not RUN? GET OUT OF DODGE?

My companions were undeterred, treating the signs as though they meant a drop-in welcome from the friendly likes of Yogi and Boo Boo. They were "into" this adventurous experience.

"This is SO AWESOME!" exclaimed my sister-in-law as we pitched a tent at three a.m.

"No, THIS ROTS!" I retorted, grabbing a blanket and making my own camp in our rented mini van.

The next day, we went into Anchorage for supplies. My fellow campers bought first aid items, cooking utensils, food, water and other things that would increase our chances of survival.

Me? I bought a butane-powered curling iron. If I was going to wrestle a bear, well...by golly, I would not go down with bad hair.

As you've gathered, I manage better at a day spa than a campsite. Snuggling up to Mother Earth is light years from my comfort zone.

In Isaiah 66, God declares that the earth is His footstool and that He made everything on it. Genesis 1:10 tells us that God was pleased with the land He created, and Romans 8:28 says that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those He calls. (Caps mine)

Makes sense, then, that He would use the things of His earth to open my eyes to some good.

He sent me back out there-on another camping trip, though much closer to home.

"You'll be FINE," my husband promised. "We're next to a nice port-a-potty."

Now, that's a good one. I might flunk Camping 101, but I DO know this: there's no such thing as a nice port-a-potty.

The words "nice" and "port-a-potty" don't belong in the same paragraph, much less side-by-side in a sentence. I can't endorse blow-up mattresses, either, which is what served as my bed. The minute I sat down, it shot out from under me and rose up like The Blob. It loomed then fell, pinning me to the musty, muddy, mildewed tent floor

Next, thunder rocked the summer night and rain poured as if trying to make up for a five-year deficit. In such a storm, being hunkered down in a tent beneath tall, fragile pines has one good point:

It'll sure kick your prayer life up a notch or two.

When the storm moved on, my youngest son, Daniel, had an idea. "Mom! Let's catch some frogs!"

Surprise-I like frogs. Daniel and I captured seven at the rippling edge of a pond. We took them back to camp, where we named them and enjoyed their hop-a-thon.

Lo and behold, I was laughing, having fun in spite of myself and the fact that I was on the polar opposite of my happy place. What's more, I was getting quality time with my youngest child.

We were planting good memories...just as Christians have the opportunity to plant good seeds every time we leave our comfort zones.

As Christians, life is easiest when we're embraced by our holy huddle, nestled among people who support our beliefs. Sometimes, life takes us beyond our cozy, like-minded havens and all we want to do is retreat to a safe corner and just survive the day.

But Jesus doesn't want us hiding out until the camping trip is over. He said, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV)

No matter where we find ourselves making camp, we're called to be lanterns-and it starts with an attitude that reflects He who lives in our hearts.

Honestly, I hope I never find myself in another tent-but if I do, I promise to aim for perseverance, unity and an attitude that doesn't tempt other campers to lose me in the woods.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." (Colossians 3: 23 NIV)

Right now, though, all this talk about camping is making me itch...so, pass the bubble bath and praise God for indoor plumbing!

(c) Donna G. Morton, July 2005
Revised January 2007

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