When We Gather By the River | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: When We Gather By the River | Previous Challenge Entry
By Theresa Doss
06/07/08
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Our family has always been campers. Not having the money for cruises, cabins in the mountains or even camping memberships it was enough to have a truck with a camper shell or a trailer hitch. We would travel to places less populated with a lot of trees and for the fisherman among us a lake or a stream was prime territory. As the years went by and our parents were getting older it became important to have family reunions. The natural venue was a campground since so many already were campers.

It took several years to find the best campground for our family. We have seen it through several owners and watched it get worse before it got better but it had its advantages so we stayed. They had a meeting room and somewhat of a kitchen and that accommodated our big noon meal on Saturday of our weekend. Then in the evening we could use it again and some years we decorated with our hobbies and interests but we all gathered for dessert and the singing. We sang old gospel that we grew up with, contemporary worship and of course a few camp fire songs for fun. The place we have been meeting has about seven cabins, hookups for trailers and RV’s and camping spots for those young enough to still use a tent and sleep on the ground-someplace for everyone.

I didn’t forget to mention there is a river did I? It is near the Sequoias so when we go in May the water is moving too fast for swimming and is in fact way to cold to consider. But those who love to fish can catch dinner and those who just want to sit and meditate can listen to the song of the water as it travels its path.

All of this brings many memories but I am thinking of the old hymn sung many times at funerals, "Shall We Gather at the River". Not in the sad slow way we sing when saddened because we have loss in our life, but with an eye to the future as the place we have prearranged to meet someday at the ultimate family reunion. I love that our simplistic earthly pleasure of camping is visually the scene of joining with Mom & Dad or cousins and Grandparents. I smile to picture them waiting as our Savior finishes the place He is preparing for us.

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