Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Twilight

I write at twilight, listening to a new Coldplay album, looking out my window at fading colors as light slowly slips behind the mountains. Aspen leaves flutter, birds sing their final songs, the air cools and begins to bite, and silence begins to reign. The stillness is so sweet. The Fox gals are just coming in after a fun hour playing with hula-hoops, sidewalk chalk, and sprinklers. Summer is so sweet here, especially at twilight, when all the happenings of the day come to one grand conclusion, in a finale of light, stillness, and song. I am in awe of beauty tonight, of beauty in so many forms….

So much happening here at Horn Creek these days. Still in month 1, but yet every day has felt like a week. We are having a summer of great joy, but also of great anticipation and question as we await the fate of Horn Creek and its financial challenges. It looked like for all we knew, Horn Creek was on the verge of closure, if not something close with the financial woes that were upon the whole camp. Many were fearful of not getting paid, some actually didn’t get paid, as we waited for answers. Yet amazingly, a donor stepped forward and gave Horn Creek some life, at least for the summer. What an amazing surprise and gift, as time has been bought for the camp to figure out if it has a future, and what that future might look like. There are many obstacles, and many questions yet to be dealt with. But tonight at twilight, we can rest and revel in what we have here today. It is good and we are thankful.

I am struck at how difficult it is to take Jesus words to heart when He challenges his followers in Matthew not to worry about tomorrow. Really, do we take Jesus at his word? Do we trust that in the same way He feeds the birds of the air, and the lilies of the field, He will give us our daily bread? Do we really walk in His day to day provision, trusting that the manna that he lays at our feet today is enough, just enough to meet our need? I do not know if I have been forced to live in the immediate like we have in the past month. It is a wonderful, and miserable place. By miserable, I mean, that I can’t rest in the future, and that is so hard for a dreamer like me. Just enough for today, just enough. Jesus is speaking to me in those words “Do not worry about tomorrow.” Truly tomorrow is out of my control, I can only revel in today. Speaking of…. I got to lead a group of 15 fathers and sons up to a high mountain lake and watch them marvel in God’s power and majesty, and in the gift of their relationships…today…. What an awesome blessing, what a privilege. His beauty, his gifts, his people, his creation, his provision….. Today it is real, and it is here, and I praise him for Twilight.

-Jeff

Early Summer Pics