Stones in the River
“Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And there they are to this day.” Joshua 4:9 (NIV)
“Life is like a river”—a metaphor too universal to attribute to any one source. Among the many aspects of this image, I am struck by the notion that a trickle of water may be directed by the placement of a few stones. As the stream follows this course, over the years its path is reinforced. Eventually an entire valley is formed, whose shape and position are attributable to those few original stones, whether placed by chance or by purpose.
This week my calendar is marked by three celebrations: my 8th wedding anniversary, my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary, and the 75th anniversary of Camp Wyoba. I feel particularly blessed by my parents, whose love for God, for one another, and for five children have withstood half a century of changing times.
My own path has been rather unique as I did not marry until I was 41 years old. Yet the act of marriage has been one of the defining marks of my life, and its joys and benefits have exceeded my expectations. I feel very fortunate for every aspect of its timing and the events that led me to where I am now. In particular without the example of my parents’ commitment to one another I believe I would not have considered getting married at all.
It is also true to say that I owe my present situation to Camp Wyoba. No, I didn’t meet Diana there. But seventeen years ago I began going to Wyoba as a cabin leader. As a confirmed bachelor, that first summer was rather a shock. I will admit to counting down the days and hours until camp was over simply so that I could recover my privacy. But I kept coming back every year as the camp experience quickly grew on me. Whatever camp has taught the campers, it taught me patience and the ability to relax while being around others 24/7. Without those lessons I would not have considered taking on an instant family (with three children).
The experiences I share here are deeply personal and yours will be very different from mine. But I would strongly encourage you not to be weary in well doing (Gal 6:9; 2 Thess 3:13). Your faithfulness to your spouse, your small acts of kindness, your labors of love—all these may seem to turn the current only a trickle today; but 50 years from now, or 75 years or 100 years, your faithfulness will have forged a canyon!
Prayer: Lord, I pause to reflect on the debt I owe to my parents; to my teachers and mentors; for my church, our camp, and those who labored to build them. Thank you for their faithfulness. And I would be faithful, although at present my efforts may seem to be of little value. Please multiply and use my gifts in ways that I cannot yet imagine. Amen.
Eric Moorhouse
Layperson
First Baptist Church
Laramie, WY |
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