Things I Learned on the Men's Camping Retreat

This past weekend me and a few of the fellas went on an overnight camping retreat with the intention of getting alone with God and working on our walk with Him.  It was a productive time with some good devotional time in God's word. I really enjoyed spending some time with the fellas and getting to know them better. I also enjoyed listening to the devotions given by a couple of the guys - I always love hearing what God is doing in people's hearts.  In addition to all I learned from God's word last weekend, He taught me a few other life lessons through this experience.  Here are a few...

• You can never be too prepared.  Thankfully there we certain members of our group that planned for every possible contingency - and saved us. There were others in the group that were wishing they had a time machine so they could go back and pack the things they had forgotten.
• The fellowship of suffering draws us closer to one another.  Hiking with a group of guys in the driving rain, setting up camp soaked to the bone, trying to starting a fire with damp wood, and sleeping in a tent with wet sleeping bag, built a camaraderie among the group. Sure we could have stayed in a five star hotel and been a lot more comfortable but we would not have come out the other side as close as we are now. Although I must admit I was voting for the five star hotel at 2am on Saturday morning.
• I can endure almost anything if I know the end is near. Despite being wet, cold, tired, with no legitimate sleep I knew I could make it thru because we were only going to be there for one night. When the end is in sight we can endure. How do we get through the trials of life? We know that one day all the pain will be over and we will be with Jesus forever. That's why Paul was able to call all trials "light afflictions".
• You can start a fire with damp/wet wood. Elijah did and so did we. I've never seen a group of people work so hard to keep a fire going.  It looked hopeless but they persevered and as a result the tone of the whole evening was changed. Before they got the fire started the majority of the group was ready to call it a night. Even when things look hopeless - persevere.
• Freeze Dried Food does not agree with my digestive system - sorry if that's too much information. Some of these lessons are more spiritual than others.
• Vince Lombardi was right when he said, "Fatigue makes cowards of us all." There were times on the hike out of the camp site that I was really tired. I'm in decent shape but walking 3 miles with a 50 pound pack, up and down steep grades, in the heat, on no sleep was tough. There were genuinely times on some of the steep uphill grades that I was praying to God for strength to make it through. We need to draw our strength from a greater power source. Don't ask for a lighter burden, or easier path; ask for strength to walk the course He's given you.
• When you don't think you can take one more step, you can! This goes with the previous item. When you feel like you can't go on just keep putting on foot in front of the other.  I love what Winston Churchill once said, "when you find yourself passing thru the valley of the shadow of death, keep walking."
• Encouragement is crucial. During tough times we need others to come along side us and encourage us.  Knowing you are not alone and that someone is there to help you gives you a tremendous boost. 
• Finally, Whenever I say that I am going camping it is guaranteed to rain.  If you are experiencing a drought, pitch me a tent, and within hours the heavens will open up and you'll be singing in the rain.

Comments

[Steve]

BTW, for next time, there are some camping options that would be a little less strenuous. Jenny Jump State Forest has cabins and is drive-in, but with plenty of trails to hike on. There is also a similar state forest near Cape May -- forget the name.

[Enoch]

If Freeze Dried Food does not agree with your digestive system, wait till you get to India. Have a good trip to MO!