“My wife and I did something the other day that I never thought we’d do”, my friend Nory offered as he peered over the top of his glasses.
“Really? Am I supposed to guess what?” I smiled.
“You’ll never guess in a million years!”
I met Nory (short for Norris) when I was appointed to sit on the governing board of the Christian organization called Missionary Maintenance Service. MMS is an incredible ministry that repairs and maintains aircraft for missionaries all over the globe. I was immediately drawn to Nory, a retired accountant whose conservative demeanor matches his chosen vocation. His freshly pressed khakis and oxford shirts belie a colligate fashion-sense that began in the mid 60’s (and continues to serve us aging baby-boomers very well).
Nory chooses his words carefully, thoughtfully. He never rushes to answer a question but rather pauses and gives it careful consideration. It flatters me to think my questions might carry a certain degree of gravitas.
So, when Nory uncharacteristically blurted out that he and his wife were launching into a new adventure, I was curious to hear the rest of the story.
“We bought a small camper to pull behind our SUV and we’re going to tour across America this summer!”
Everyone in the room responded with a congratulatory note… except me. His new spirit of adventure caught me off guard and struck a heretofore unrealized dream of my own.
As I listened, I found myself entering into his new found excitement. After years with their noses to the grindstone, they were lifting their faces into the wind. They were going camping!
I confess I have never considered camping for our family. And honestly, up to this point in my life, I couldn’t imagine why anyone else would!
But something strange stirred deep in my spirit as I listened to Nory describe their plans to see Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and points west. As he spoke with reckless abandon I drifted off into that world, imagining Marilyn and me breathing in the beauty of America’s natural wonders.
Returning to the moment I realized there was a problem. You see, all my life, I had sworn I would never buy a camper! I blustered, “If I want to see America, I’ll do it from the window of an airplane and a luxury hotel!”
The Bible warns us about people like me who “swear to their own hurt” (Psalm 15:4). Although this reference urges us to keep our promises even if it hurts, I have often used the same term to warn others to be careful about making declarations that come back and bite them where they sit. Statements like, “You’ll never catch me in one of those things!” or “I’ll don’t care how you cook it, I’ll never eat another zucchini!” may become promises that paint us into a corner.
I had sworn numerous times, “I’ll never own a camper!” But… somewhere between the board meeting in Coshocton and my home near Somerset, I decided I wanted a camper!
Marilyn listened in disbelief as I tentatively, even embarrassingly, described my newly discovered excitement to camp America.
Knowing it could take days for her to process my bizarre new vision, I wisely choose not to “sell her” on the idea. Instead, I gently laid the concept on the table and asked, “Please think it over, and we’ll talk about it later.”
Every functional couple has their own unique deliberation process. Ours goes like this: I decide instantly, and she ruminates on it for days—even weeks! Like baking a cake, I realized I had to walk carefully and quietly while patiently answering her random questions, most of which suggested she wasn’t moving in my direction.
Then suddenly, after several days and several trips to RV dealers, I received the following text message: “I’m ready for our next new adventure! Let’s go pick out a camper!”
This is The Resurrection Weekend—a time to reflect on our Savior’s incredible sacrifice on the cross. The glory of the cross is found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ—new life coming up from old. Easter is a time when the unexpected rises up from old ways and stale routines blossom into exciting new adventures.
Attend the church of your choice and catch the excitement of Jesus’ plan for you: a new adventure, new life from old. Have a blessed Easter!
Read Ron’s column, Simple Faith, each Saturday on the Faith Page (page 3) of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette, or visit www.lancastereaglegazette.com.