My favorite memories revolve around camp. The most vulnerable I’ve ever been has been in the woods…often around a campfire. There is something about flames against a new moon sky that allows for surrender. Something about sleeping under the stars that gently reminds me how great my creator is. Camp will forever be my first love.
One of my last summers as a camper at Camp Wesley Woods, the theme of the summer was “Come and See.” It was a particular favorite of mine…
A recent journey into the wilderness that is a Tennessee State Park brought with it memories of lagoons, vespers, silly songs, night hikes, and chaco tan lines. Moments of friendship strung together with laughter, encouragement, letters, struggle, adventure, coffee, and love. My tent saw it’s first tears on this recent trip…
As I lay in my new home with my eyes towards the night sky, mesmerized by the constellations, heaviness set in. Heaviness and wonder at the reality of leaving comfort for wilderness. It blows my mind to think that continents away I will be sleeping under the same night sky I sleep under now.
If I’m being honest, most days the thought of saying goodbye and leaving for wilderness frightens me more than the acts of living out of a backpack, foreign foods, malarial side effects, and language barriers combined.
On that particularly cold night, I prayed for a word or phrase that would comfort and bring peace for my upcoming goodbyes.
Faithfully, I was reminded of a morning watch led by my favorite hiking minister in residence Mr. Bob Hayes, where he invited us to:: “come and see.”
The message was as inviting and relevant then as it is now…
The God of Nashville, and of Tennessee, and of the states is the same God of Rwanda, and Nepal, and Thailand. God isn’t sending me out saying, “keep in touch I’m only a phone call away!” He’s saying, “come and see… there’s so much more I’ve created for you to enjoy!”
Maybe it’s just semantics, but for some reason the thought of God telling me, “come [and see]” is more comforting/gentle/appealing, than God telling me, “go [into the world]”
As I anticipate the World Race and the adventures awaiting my arrival, I pray for the courage to see and seek all that God has created…for a spirit that that is excited to be welcomed into discipleship with Christ and isn’t afraid or anxious of the go-ing that requires goodbyes.
