What kind of journey are you on?

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
Psalm 119:105

We just had our Commission on Camping meeting this past Saturday and decided the theme for this year is Journey. It ties to the National ABC as well as the Region themes this year. We all liked this theme since it has many different ways of looking at it. Everyone is on a journey of some sort.

There is your faith journey, your life journey, Jesus' journey to the cross, and so on....
I am excited to see what direction the Directors of each camp take this for the different age groups.

Speaking of journey, we are well on our way in the Lenten journey this year. I wasn't able to go to church for Ash Wednesday so Emma and I had our own service and I let her put ashes on my forehead as we repeated "from dust you came and to dust you shall return".
We also talked about what we wanted to take up for the season to prepare our hearts for Easter. I am going to take up better care of the temple God gave me with better nutrition and exercise. I was slacking big time in those areas. Emma decided to take up being more creative and watching less TV. She got out her crochet kit to start a project as well as making a corn husk doll. This in itself is going to be an interesting journey.

What journey are you on right now? Is it the journey or the destination in your view that is important?

P.S. I have 10 followers now on the blog - woohoo double digits :-)

P.P.S. The photo is of Bunny and I at the empty tomb - the last stop of a journey through Israel.

Almost 40 days til Easter

John 14:6
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

This time I am spending in the office each week preparing for the camping season reminds me a little of the time that starts this week as we prepare for Easter.

Prior to learning more about the Director job, I went to camp, enjoyed my time and always walked away with a heart full of love and a spirit that was renewed in Christ and all God has done for me. Now I understand what goes in to getting ready for the camping season - finding staff, volunteers, supplies, state certificates, financial stuff and so on. I have a better appreciation for what is to come and how it will need to managed.

Prior to learning more about the Lent season, I always thought it was something Catholics did. There seemed to be a lot of ritual and going through the motions. Now I see this as a different experience. Someone once explained to me that you "don't give up" something for Lent. The idea is to take up your own cross and be mindful of what God did for us while you struggle to deal with your choice. Lent is 40 days to prepare your mind and spirit to accept the miracle and sacrifice that Jesus took for us. I have done this for a few years now and my celebration of the Easter service has changed. I have a much better appreciation and understanding after preparing my heart those 40 days. 

This isn't to say that this is the only time I do these things, but with the craziness of life, it does give me a focused time to spend in prayer and preparation. I had been going to a Lutheran Church for several years and I have to admit, I do like some of the rituals they observed.

Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.

Do you observe Lenten practices? What meaning do they hold for you?

F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely on God)

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

I am not used to people helping me. There, I said it. I don't want to offend anyone that has helped me in the past, but I am not one that usually asks for help or at least I try not to ask for help. I am the one who tries to help others or figures out a way to get things done.

Lately, I have had some wonderful people that have helped me. Some of it, I had to ask for and some of it was unsolicited. I'll be honest that at first it was a little weird to ask for help. For some reason in my brain I needed to take care of everything and do it all. Well, as am I sure all of you know - I can't do it all! (Neither can you!)

I had a wonderful boss that used to tell me that I can do anything, I just couldn't do everything as I volunteered for more projects and more work. Boy was she right and I have to remind myself of that from time to time as I add more to my plate.

The problem with feeling that you can do everything is sometimes you start to rely on yourself vs God. If I only do this and this and this it will work out vs trusting that God knows what He is doing and will take care of us. Part of relying on God is also relying on His agents to help you whether you know you need the help or not. Sometimes the agents and the method He uses isn't quite what you had in mind.

This new role with Camp Tamarack means that I will be relying on God and His agents to be Directors, Leaders, Health Officers and such. I can't do it all. So far He has brought amazing people in to my life to support Winter Youth Retreat and volunteers/staff for this summer.

Where is God pushing you to trust Him and to be grateful for the support you have gotten?