EN(dur)ANCE by Robin Gudal

 

Greggy and I love to camp. Fall camping is my favorite! We call our camper The Mark 6:31.

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” (NIV)

When you camp, everything slows down, at times almost to a halt. I no longer feel like the daily list is a main priority. I sit and read. I do puzzles. I sleep in — even go to bed early, make meals when we feel like it, take a bike ride, visit with people, take walks, play games; it is like we step into another world momentarily.

This past summer, whilst camping, I threw Greg for a loop when I was waiting to see what he wanted to do that day.

I said, “It’s OK, I will be a Charlie’s Angel.”

With a puzzled look, he said, “What?”

“Oh,” I said. “I am just waiting for the next assignment.”

I slow way down.

Waiting patiently is not a strong suit in American society. Have you heard the story about the woman’s car that stalled in traffic? She looked in vain under the hood to identify the cause, while the driver behind her leaned relentlessly on his horn. Finally, she had enough.

She walked back to his car and offered sweetly, “I don’t know what the matter is with my car. But if you want to go look under the hood, I’ll be glad to stay here and honk for you.” (from author John Ortberg).

Forty-three times in the Old Testament alone, the people are commanded, “Wait. Wait on the Lord.”

The last words in the Bible are about waiting: The one who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” (insight from author John Ortberg).

How are you at being still and quiet, waiting? It does not come natural for me.

As a friend recently said, “You meet yourself coming and going.”

I am that task-oriented, list crossing-off, fast-moving person by nature. However, it’s a muscle I am trying to learn to use. Silence is powerful!

I love old hymns; a verse comes to mind, helping settle my body, mind and my actions: “It is well. With my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.” (From “It Is Well with My Soul” by Horatio G. Spafford).

I need to make the choice to slow down, to be “camping” at home. I know when we are moving too fast, we miss things; important things. Won’t you “go camping” with me this fall season?

Mark 6:31 (NIV): “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (NIV)

Robin (Beckman) Gudal, intentional in life, is a wife, momma, nana, friend, and a flawed and imperfect follower of Jesus.