Gabe's Hummer Ride

I want you to close your eyes for just a second (not sure how you'll read with your eyes closed but give it a shot anyway) and imagine along with me... Picture hundreds of acres of God's creation- mountains, forest, a lake, streams, ponds... And then picture being there for a weekend in which you get to spend time with your friends- serving by working at the camp and growing in your Faith! Makes you wish you were there, huh?
Well that is what 14 of us got to do this past weekend at Awanita Valley Camp. We went there with the purpose of serving at the camp where so many of us have deepened our relationship with God in years past. What a blessing it was to see what takes place behind the scenes at this camp.
There were several amazing things that happened on this trip from zipping into the lake on the zip-line (yes it was REALLY cold), to doing a hay-ride in the dark, to laying TONS of mulch on the ropes course. But I want to share with you an experience that I hope will encourage you during life's tough times.
We arrived at Awanita Valley Camp just after 8 pm last Friday night and were greeted by our hosts. We received the exciting news that, after we were done getting out stuff into our rooms, we were going to do a Hummer ride! If you have ever done a ride up Hummer Hill you know that it is a really bumpy and sometimes painfully nauseating ride. Now picture this at night!!! It was really incredible.
My wife and my 19 month-old son Gabe came along for the ride. We were pretty concerned about how Gabe was going to react to this experience.
Several bumpy minutes later we made it to the top of the mountain and were greeted by a spectacular view of the tree-line, mountain-tops and valleys of this region. The moon was showing off its splendor as it glowed on our chilly faces (Gabe looked at the moon and called it a "ball").
It was now time to go back down to the bottom of the mountain. So we climbed up on the back of the red Hummer, I wrapped a blanket around Gabe as he sat on my lap and held him close to me. About halfway down the mountain amidst the shrieks and screams of all too frightened teenage girls (and some boys) I noticed that Gabe was fast asleep on my lap! With every bump that approached and every gust of biting air that met us I prepared myself to calm and comfort him. But it never happened- he slept through it all.
How wonderful it is to know that our Heavenly Father desires to wrap His love around us and holds us close throughout the bumps and cold of life. As Gabe was comforted by the knowledge that his studly dad (at least to him I am) was holding and protecting him we too should take heart that the maker of these mountains longs to hold us each in his arms.
I am so encouraged by this thought even as I write this. So this week as life throws its nasty stuff your way, know that God embraces you through it all- whether you are going to the mountaintop or the valley below.