And Jesus... : On the Road Chaplain

And Jesus… Hello Hump Day Readers. Here we are in May already—where does the time go? Up here in New Mexico our garden is coming along and trees are budding and even my blue and red precious Columbines are coming up! You can thank Al for all of that, he has the green thumb touch. My thumbs are for piano and computer keyboards (at least I can’t kill them).

The other day we had a couple here with two large—no not large but HUGE Great Pyrenees dogs. Gorgeous white, huge feet and they love to herd anything, even Ricky, who picks up our garbage every other day at the campground. The day before they left, I saw her running down the pavement in pursuit of Hercules & Moose. Her husband thought he closed the door to their RV-not so. The two ‘small ponies’ made their escape and she was on the run to get them. One broke off and came up by the booth so I thought, I think I can grab it. Al and our LabraDane ‘Moose’ had gone over to the recreation area to put up signs so I opened the booth door and literally had to tackle their ‘Moose’ the beast. Once I had his collar, he decided to lick my face, including my glasses.

She had already put “Hercules” in the RV and was coming up to the booth in her Subaru. My first thought—the two of us will never get this 200+ pound dog in by ourselves. Then I heard a whisper “Yes you can” and I immediately knew it was Jesus—he is good at nudges. So, I opened the hatch and this thin, 5ft lady and I were able to get her Moose into the small SUV. The dog seemed contrite but, like our Moose, he yodeled all the way back to their campsite!

Have I mentioned how being a camp host can have all kinds of adventures?! It’s true. There is always a need and sometimes it’s easy and other times you roll-up your sleeves and with Jesus at your side, the impossible becomes possible. (We won’t talk about having to go to a chiropractor, though!) It’s in those kinds of moments when we say or feel “it’s impossible” you get that whisper from Jesus saying, “Yes you can!” When this happens, I often blurt out loud “Really?” and I think people wonder if I am crazy (a bit!). But in the end, together with Jesus, the deed gets done.

My favorite scripture, Philippians 4:13-14, came to mind and I love how the Message translation takes Paul’s words in a powerful way:

“I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little.

I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.”

What I needed that day chasing a 200lb dog was sheer physical strength and God provided it right on time. Sometimes we just wash-over the “impossible gift” and forget to say thanks to God and go on our merry way as if we got the deed one on our own. In Paul’s words above, you can feel his thankfulness to the folks in Philippi who loved and cared for him. They were the “impossible-become-possible” for Paul and together, their deeds showed the love, strength and power of God for everyone.

Later that afternoon when I went down from the booth, I passed their site and her husband came out to thank me. He also said, “how on earth did you get Moose in our little SUV? I hesitated a minute and then I felt a nudge and said, “brute strength…and Jesus!” He smiled and said “that makes perfect sense.” And yes, once again I heard that delicious “chuckle” from my precious Savior! AMEN.