The Boundary Waters Is Just This Side of Heaven
“He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants. ”
I love the outdoors. Camping, canoeing, hiking- to me, that is what heaven will be like. I learned to embrace the passion in a church youth group. We went to the Boundary Waters in Northern Minnesota/Canada. I took several trips up there during high school and college years. My faith grew as I was pushed beyond my comfort zone and given space to be alone with God. Here are some of the lessons I learned through those many trips. (I stole the headings from an article, “The Lost Arts of the Outdoors,” by the editors of Outsideonline.com.)
I learned to Keep Your Cool, No Matter What. One day, the waves on Ensign Lake picked up. The chop of the waves tossed the canoe sideways, with water coming over the sides. There was no time to reconsider, no time to beg for help, no time to ponder the unfairness of the moment. Our only hope was to trust our instincts, turn into the waves, and ride it out. We made it to shore, and it was exhilarating. When we keep our cool, there is almost nothing we cannot ride out.
While I had already learned to start a fire, I improved the skill over time. Fire provides warmth, the ability to cook, and most importantly, to make s’mores. A good fire needs the right amount of oxygen and the right fuel: kindling and logs. In the Boundary Waters, I learned to read the Bible with reflection; it was the fuel that moved my faith. This fuel, combined with the Holy Spirit’s oxygen, lit a fire in my soul. The Boundary Waters helped refine the way I built the fire of faith within me.
Finally, getting lost in the Boundary Waters is dangerous. Learning to read a map is a life-and-death skill. Figuring out the right direction from the wrong one is vitally important. In the Boundary Waters, I learned to read the map of my life. That beautiful part of the country solidified the direction my life would take. Keeping your cool, starting a proper fire, and learning to read a map are spiritual activities. Whether you ever intend to visit the Boundary Waters, you should learn these three skills. They will lead you to your eternal home.
