I did it. I survived my first camping trip as an adult.It really wasn't a new experience for me. In fact, we used to go camping all the time when I was a kid. I'll admit, I have a wealth of great memories from our family camping trips - of sitting around the campfires talking late into the evening, of fun places we visited, of swimming, fishing and playing in the woods with my sister and brother.
But I also have plenty of memories of sitting in a tent, coloring, waiting for the rain to stop. Or waking up in the morning with our air mattresses floating. Or dashing from the tent to the car in the middle of the night while lightning flashed around us. These memories are the reason I swore I would never go camping when I was "grown up."
So when my brother called a few months ago and asked, "Has Lars talked to you about the Kirkland family camping trip?" my first response was, "Do I have to go?"
But it was only for two nights, and my sister-in-law had agreed to go only if I went. I did think it would be fun for the boys to go camping with their cousins, and we have a nice tent (which up until then had never been used), so I agreed. Three days, two nights at Higgins Lake State Park.
Now, here's what you have to know about me. It's not the dirt or sleeping on the ground that bothered me. I don't particularly like getting dirty, but I can deal with it. And the air mattresses we have are comfortable enough for a few nights. I wasn't even too concerned about rain, because my sister and her family were bringing a pop-up camper with a supply of board games. (She learned from our camping experiences as kids!)
The real problem is, I have a fear of germs, and consequently I hate public bathrooms. Avoid them at all costs. It is almost a paranoid phobia of mine, using a public toilet. Gross. And when you're at a state park for three days and two nights, you have to use a public bathroom.
I am learning, though, that when I am willing to face my fears instead of letting them rule my life, God gives me a strength I didn't know I had. I refuse to allow my fear to keep me from spending time with my family, or to rob my kids of these kinds of fun experiences. This was no exception.
No, God didn't miraculously transform the campground bathroom into a private spa. He didn't even zap it clean for me. It was, admittedly, pretty gross. But He did give me peace. For three days, I was not afraid of public bathrooms. And guess what? No one got sick or contracted a terrible disease as a result of using them!
My point is, we had a great time together as a family. My sister's family, my brother's family, my family, and even my Aunt Darci and her family were all there. My mom and dad came up for one day, but they couldn't stay the whole time because of my dad's dialysis. We hung out at the lake, shared meals together, and sat and talked for hours around the campfire. It was fantastic, and completely relaxing. And it didn't even rain until we were all packed up and ready to head home!
But it wouldn't have happened if I had let my fears win. To me, this is a huge victory, and it really has less to do with camping and more to do with taking my fears captive. A life full of fear is lonely and empty. I choose a life that is not ruled by fear, but by a reliance on God's strength.
As David wrote in Psalm 18, "The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge." When I dwell on this instead of letting my fears take over, He will give me the strength to overcome those fears. And life will hold so much more as a result!
