Some True Moves: Tabernacles

We've been disconnected from the world from the past week. For the past 4 years we've travelled to Nashville to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles with some old friends. We spend a week outside, camping, eating, playing, and living in community. We are remembering the Israelites wandering in the desert and being reminded that this life is only temporary. We reflect on Christ tabernacling among us and wonder if His return will come soon. We are surrounded by like minded people and wonder if this is a little taste of heaven. The outside world stops for a bit. No internet, no TV, few toys. We stay up late, we help with each others kids, we cook for each other, we talk about the big things. Most of these people we only see this one time each year, but we have quickly become friends and even family.
   There are inconveniences from spending so much time outside and we long for home, much in the way we should be longing for heaven. At the same time though, we hate to see it end. We are enjoying each other too much, and wondering how to keep some of this alive everyday. This year was bit different. We actually stayed at a Bible camp. We had the option of staying in cabins (which at 7 months of pregnancy I didn't feel bad taking :). We had a heated and lit dining hall to cook and eat in. There was a playground and a ropes course. The day it rained all day we didn't mind so much. We still had to hike to the bathroom though and we spent most evenings huddled around the fire wondering how cold the night would get.
    We're home now. On a different planet it almost feels. The woods and trails are replaced by busy streets and tall buildings. The hours of endless outdoor play are replaced by battery operated toys and requests to watch a movie. The time spent talking about soap making, wool spinning, and knot tying are replaced by logistics of work, school, and ministry. We were greeted at home by a note on the door from a man down the street telling us his bike was stolen and he wonders if we can help him out.
   There's always been a part of me that wants to hide from the world. Buy a house in the woods, teach my kids how to raise animals and grow food, watch them climb trees and build forts. That's not what God has called us to though. God has called some to that for sure, but not us. We are called here. To live next to people who don't know Him. To spend our days balancing family and ministry. To wonder how to help the man who comes to our door wondering if we can spare any food. Sometimes it feels like a burden. Then my good friend calls to ask us to lunch. She tells me they're out anyway because they've been helping do some work in the neighborhood with some of the basketball players Jason and her husband coach. I'm reminded of how her husband called us this week to tell us one of the guys became a Christian. I'm reminded that joy is only found in doing what God has called you to do and I'm grateful. Still it was a wonderful week :).
Here's some pictures of the highlights.