Living in Exile in Colorado
“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
In my ministry, I have the privilege of traveling through some of the most beautiful places in the world. Many people plan for a year, or even a lifetime to visit the places I drive through on a regular basis. I must confess that there are times when I barely take time to notice the beauty as I drive through Rabbit Ears Pass or Wolf Creek Pass.
 In the midst of this beauty, I sometimes see things that are not as beautiful. Recently, I stumbled across “Camp Amache” in southeastern Colorado near Lamar. I wondered why anyone would put a camp in this arid part of Colorado. As I detoured off of Highway 50, I soon discovered that Camp Amache was anything but what my preconception of a camp was; trees, mountains, a lake. Camp Amache was a Japanese relocation camp from World War II.
That afternoon, I spent a couple hours wandering through the ruins of this sad part of American history. All that is left are the slab foundations of a community where 7,800 Japanese-Americans were imprisoned because of their race. Camp Amache also has a small cemetery and a tribute to PFC Kiyoshi Muranaga a resident of Camp Amache who joined the Army and received the Congressional Medal of Honor fighting in Europe.
 There in the ruins of Camp Amache, I had the sense that this was a “sacred” place. Peoples’ lives were forever changed by three or four years of imprisonment in this desolate place. People died. New Americans were born. Children attended school. I’m sure that there were weddings and even a few baptisms.
As I think of this place, I think of Israel’s exile. For seventy years, they lived, worked, married and died in Babylon. For seventy years, they struggled to hear the voice of God. For seventy years, they longed to go home. (Read Jeremiah’s letter to the Israelites, Jeremiah 29:1-23.)
In these seventy years, they discovered a different face of God. A God who was with them in their exile. A God who would discipline his Chosen People and still look on them with compassion. A God of hope in the midst of despair. God’s people discovered a new face when they looked in the proverbial mirror. They were still the people of God even in Babylon. Even without the Temple in Jerusalem they could worship God. In the Exile, the Israelites’ faith matured.
I have never been in exile or lived as a stranger in a strange land for more than a few months. But, I have known the pain of the silence of God. I have known the difficult struggle of being faithful when I felt as if I were living far from the presence of God. I have also known the joy of feeling that God was guiding every step. I know the feeling of being restored even though I don’t feel worthy.
I would prefer to stay only in the “Promised Land.” I know, however, that I need the “exile times” to clarify and purify my faith. I know that I grow complacent in the mountain top times. I also know that in times of exile, I need to hear the promise of God to the Exiles.
Prayer: Lord, when I get impatient with circumstances, when I whine that you have forgotten me, remind me that you have not forgotten me. Let me learn from the Exile. Give me the hope of the return to the mountain top.
http://www.medalofhonor.com/KiyoshiMuranaga.htm
http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/wwcod/granada.htm
Mike Oldham
ABCRM Ministry &
Mission Coach
SE Colorado, New Mexico
& the Western Slope
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