I went camping this last week with wife and child. It was beautiful.
I love camping. It's funny, though, how silly it all is. You go away to a place where you feel like your in the wild, but with showers. You sleep on the ground (nevermind the air mattress that was blown up with a portable pump), brave the elements (in your $150 tent designed by some nerd who sits at a computer), you eat rustic food (with your propane powered stove), and sleep and wake by the light of the sun (except for when you turn on your nifty lantern). It's silly really. Did you know that when some people go camping they actually bring heaters, TV's, stereos, computers, and all sorts of other nifty things. Or let us dig in even deeper, did you know that when some people go "camping" (I use quotation marks because I am using the word camping so loosely) in motorhomes! That means that they actually bring a house on wheels to go camping in. Wait, wait, wait. Let me see if this is right. They escape the clutter of life and home by going to a nearby parking lot that is called a campground in a car that has been constructed to look and live like a home. Whazux? (I'm not sure what that means).

To all of you who actually go camping all rustic style...congrats. I wish I could, but I can't. I have a baby and a loving wife to makes many sacrifices for me, her love stud.

Here is why I love camping. Stars are beautiful. Trees are beautiful. Mountains and lakes and driftwood is beautiful. Doing nothing occasionally is beautiful. Playing Yahtzee with my wife is beautiful. Going on walks with my kid is beautiful. Helping my son pick out the best pinecone and rock to carry around is gorgeous. Sitting by the fire is gorgeous. Playing with fire is wonderful too. Smelling like smoke. Going to bed early. Waking up early. Reading often. Praying often. Escape. Escape. Escape from demands. Escape from appointments. Escape from traffic. Escape from the clock. Escape from business (as in too busy, not big business. I'm not clear on the spelling difference...and don't waste your time by telling me 'cause I don't really care).

I think that God might live in campgrounds. I mean, I know that as a born again Christian, he lives in me. But, I think that I hear him better in campgrounds and hiking. I see him. I get to know him. When I've forgotten to look, I find him again. I gain clarity out there. I remember Him more out there...now if I could only live in a tent in downtown 'Couve...