Several weeks ago, I wrote about a would-be camping trip that went seriously awry—we barely made it out of the driveway with camper in tow when the car’s bumper gave way.
I think that was the last straw, camping-wise, for our family.
I recall four other attempts at a fun family adventure that turned out less than ideal. I may have the order wrong, but the four incidents happened on successive camping trips. The hitch catastrophe was number five.
It should be noted that each of these trips began with high hopes and much enthusiasm. I’m sure my parents wanted to create some good family memories. Well, memories we got.
At a campground in Michigan, I believe, everything was going well. Perfect weather. Fun swimming in the lake. Good camp food. Roasted marshmallows. Typical camping activities.
Marshmallows consumed, we sat around the fire for a while until the three boys were directed to head to the bathhouse to get cleaned up for bed. As we hurriedly made our way up the paved park road, dad called out, “Walk, boys! Don’t run!!”
Too late.
The three of us were already in full stride, my older brother and I putting distance between us and our younger brother. He was wearing flip-flops. Ever try running in flip-flops? Not a good plan—hence Dad’s order.
Not even thirty seconds after Dad’s instructions, it happened. Little brother tripped on the front of his flip-flop and crashed forehead first into the pavement. The howling brought dad running.
My brother, sister, and I were left under the charge of neighbor campers while Mom and Dad raced to the closest emergency room. An anxious hour and a half later, they returned with little brother, sporting several stitches in his forehead.
I remember nothing else from that trip. And little brother to this day blames his older brothers. Understandably.
Another year, again at a lakeshore campground in Michigan, we had finished setting up the campsite, and the brothers announced to our parents that we were going exploring…and off we went.
What we didn’t know is that our youngest sibling, 3-year-old sister, was trailing behind. Of course, she couldn’t keep up. After a while, the three boys returned to the campsite, and Mom asked, “Where’s your sister?”
Our blank stares evoked panic, as one might imagine. The lake was less than a hundred yards away.
Fortunately, she was found a short time later a few sections away—unharmed, but not unshaken. Of course, we were all shaken up a bit.
And once again, guess who got the blame?
My step-grandmother lived in Somerset, Kentucky, so one trip took us to nearby Cumberland Falls State Park.
Our campsite sat at the bottom of a fairly steep ridge—perfect for exploring!
Grandmother had come to the campground for an afternoon and campfire cookout. So while the women worked on dinner, the brothers headed up the ridge to find artifacts, gems, wild creatures, and dinosaur bones.
We were within earshot of the campsite, so when Mom announced dinner was ready, we hurriedly made our way down the hill.
Did I mention it was a steep ridge? It’s not advisable to run down a steep ridge.
“Don’t run!” Mom yelled.
Too late.
I wanted to beat my brothers; I was already running…downhill…down a steep ridge. I can blame the law of gravity for my disobedience, but it didn’t care. Didn’t care that I plummeted head-first onto the rocky path. Rocks scraped up my nose and face…my hands…my arms…my pride. At least I didn’t have to go to the ER. Nurse Mom sufficed on that one.
I’m not sure where the fourth trip took us—perhaps Pennsylvania.
First day at the campsite, everything was in order, and the evening meal finished. Dinner that night was cooked over coals in a fire ring.
Next to the camper, Dad had set up a new badminton set, and it was time to play before darkness set in.
Was a pretty short game.
I hit the birdie over the net toward dad, who was determined not to let his kid best him. He reached out as far as he could and almost got it. Almost…if it weren’t for the root sticking up from the ground, tripping him, and sending him headlong toward the fire ring. He crashed into the metal ring, ribs crunching against steel. Steel won.
Another trip to the ER for x-rays. His cracked ribs put an end to badminton and just about every other activity on that trip!
So, the next year when the bumper fell off the car in a failed attempt to tow the camper, I suppose it’s understandable that my parents decided camping wasn’t for us.
Ah, Adversity…
Sometimes when seemingly negative things like these happen over and over again, we can legitimately conclude that we might be better going in another direction. “Opposition,” as we might call it, or “adversity” can be an effective means of redirecting our energies.
I learned this lesson in my first place of pastoral ministry. I’ll not tire the reader with details. Suffice it to say, the leadership boards were dead set on going in an opposite direction from their pastor. My convictions didn’t allow me to capitulate and go with them. I concluded it was time to move on.
Adversity—a cracked forehead, smashed face, lost daughter, broken ribs, etc.—may be sending the message to quit camping and move on.
But not necessarily.
There can be any number of reasons for adversity that don’t involve quitting or heading off in another direction.
Perhaps it’s designed to make us stronger. Weak we will be if we always run for cover or for an easier life.
Paul learned that when he was struggling with a “thorn in the flesh.” Three times he asked God to remove the adversity. God refused, insisting instead that His strength would be made perfect in Paul’s weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)
Perhaps there are some important lessons we need to learn, and adversity is the most efficient teacher. After all, I never again ran down a steep, rocky ridge! Even the Psalmist pointed out,
“It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” – Psalm 119:71
We need to also admit that there can be a corrective element in affliction. Again, the psalmist:
“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.” – Psalm 119:67
I believe adversity can also be an effective means of testing our resolve to persist in what we already know we need to do. I came across something Paul said in one of his letters that reinforced this idea.
Writing to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 16:5-8), he expressed a desire to visit them in the near future. He was determined to pass through the region where Corinth was located and would stop by then—but he didn’t want to just pass through. His intention was to spend a considerable length of time there.
For the time being, though, he insisted that he stay in Ephesus because, he said, “a wide door for effective work has opened to me.” Clearly, he was convinced God wanted him to stay put in Ephesus for the time being and walk through that open door.
But what he said next struck me: “…and there are many adversaries.”
What role was this adversity to play? Obviously, it wasn’t intended by God to get Paul to quit the ministry. Nor to leave Ephesus for greener pastures. Nor to go along with what the adversaries wanted.
The Ephesian adversity tested his courage, his resolve, his confidence in the work God had called him to do there. This he understood and carried on.
So, yes, repeated adversity may mean it’s time to sell the camper, remove the hitch, give away the gear, and try something else.
But not necessarily.
0
0
20
20
