Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Camping (07/11/05)
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TITLE: Making Memories | Previous Challenge Entry
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07/18/05 -
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This is not a question physical locale but one of spirit. My love for Jesus is strong and growing stronger. My love for my daughter is just as strong. As I think of her I find myself on the verge of tears because she is who she is. There is no pretense just an openness in her heart that I can't find the words to describe. I see the reflection of my Creator in her.
My thoughts wander to my son, the other half of the pair. I find myself thinking of his spirit and contemplating ways that I can help set his spirit free. I also think about my wife and how great God is to place such a wonderful woman at my side. I'm growing to appreciate her more for all that she has done and will do from my soul. Almighty Lord in heaven, thank you for all my blessings.
Once again I sit alone reading my Bible during a time of solitude. My emotions are running high and I'm on the verge of tears. I read about the vine and how God is the gardener. Pruning off dead branches. Snipping here and there to make my branches strong. God does this so I can support the burdens I must face. To protect and nourish the fruit He has asked me to bare.
I read about Jesus telling us to love each other. My heart swells with thoughts of my daughter and how this small piece of fruit brings me so much. The joy is overwhelming and I begin to cry the tears of unconditional love.
I wipe the tears away only to find them there again. Tears of the love God has for me and the happiness I feel when I'm with Him. All that surrounds me penetrates my spirit and sets me free. Free to allow the Holy Spirit to fill my heart. Almighty Lord in heaven, thank you for all my blessings.
My daughter and I are on a hunt, a safari of sorts. Our query is not some wild beast that can snatch our life in the blink of an eye nor a serpent coiled and ready to strike. What we seek are faces, the faces of men long gone from this earth.
We walk down one path of the camp only to find nothing, not even a hint of what we seek. We try another path that takes us deeper into the woods but come back with the same result, nothing. We return to the first path to try again. The soft whisper of God telling us to go a little further.
My daughter walks ahead past the spot where we stopped before. I hear her cry out, "Daddy, I see the faces!" A few more steps, around a curve and over a small hill, and there they are. Faces carved into the pine trees, thirteen of them, a face for Jesus and each disciple. Among them a cross.
Each face was different, some smiled with joy while others looked hollow as if something was missing. We touched them, the faces of the disciples and Christ. Almighty Lord in heaven, thank you for my blessings.
It's our last morning of camp and the time to leave is growing near. I find I have mixed emotions, sad because I don't want to leave and happy for what I have found, my heart. My daughter and I met many challenges. The high ropes course and 60 foot climbing wall, though frightening, couldn't hold us back. We conquered them and are happy we did.
The boat driver says their not expecting the next bus until 8:30. Yes, another half hour of the girls playing Thunderball and time for some solitude. I don't have a single regret about coming. Camp has been one of the most moving things I have ever done. My daughter asked if we could come back next year. I could only respond, "Absolutely!" Although I'm leaving camp I'm not leaving it behind. The memories will be with me forever.
Thank you God for all the ways you have blessed me.
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