The Need to Get Away

“When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.” - Matthew 14:13 (New International Version)

Southwest Airlines understands the need. They offer “Get Away” fares in order to capitalize on it. Throughout the years, the Church has understood the need as it has devoted significant resources to the purchase, development and running of retreat, camp and conference centers around the world. Jesus understood the need because He learned it from the Creator who on the seventh day rested. It is the human need to get away, relax and have a time with God surrounded by Creation, especially in times of distress or sadness. And when we do that, we discover God’s grace and power in new ways.

Jesus’ taking a “Sabbath” time alone in the wilderness, in this instance, sets up the only miracle that is shared in all four of our Gospels, The Feeding of the Five Thousand. Because the people follow Him into this deserted place Jesus is able to use the faithfulness of a small boy and feed the masses. The people who might otherwise have been well fed, relatively affluent folks are forced to get in touch with their need and their dependence upon God to provide. It offered them (and us if we will allow our imaginations to work) the opportunity to experience in a small way the dependence upon God that the Israelites had while wandering through the desert those many years. Because Jesus went out into the desert and people followed, a new and deeper connection with God resulted.

That in short is what the camping ministry of our Region and of so many other Regions, churches and para-church ministries is about! It is about allowing folk to follow Jesus out into the Creation in order that they can find a new and deeper relationship with God. Oh, they may not experience the miracle of extension when it comes to the camp food (in some cases that is grace – but not for our camps!), but they do experience God in a deeper more powerful way. To sit out under the stars unadulterated by city lights – to hear the voice of the creation singing its praises to God not being drowned out by the hustle and bustle of the city – one cannot help but echo the words of the Psalmist and wander what great love God has for us in the midst of God’s great Creation that we alone have been singled out for God’s Grace, Love and Mercy. We alone have been created in God’s image!

While many of us first experience this form of renewal at a church camp, our opportunity to discover God in the Creation is not limited to those times. We live in a part of the world that is full of opportunities to go out into a deserted place and to discover God. Perhaps one evening this week, maybe even tonight, you will find a place to go out into a deserted place and be with Jesus. Imagine what miracles you will see!

Prayer: Creater God of Heaven and Earth, we long to be in your presence, not just in the deserted places of this world, but also in the busy places. Help us to learn to hear your voice in the desert, so that we may more clearly hear You in the busy-ness of our lives. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

-Read past thoughts-