Dear Theophilus:: September 2003
The Magnificence of God's Creation
by Jenny Jun
I packed everything that I could think of-SPF 30 waterproof sunblock, all-day lasting mosquito repellent and coil, Maglite flashlight, wool socks from Eddie Bauer, anti-bacterial wipes for the face and hands, electric toothbrush, extra-whitening toothpaste, etc. And all those things I abandoned after the first day of camping.
My home church in Illinois organized for the 20 of us college students an annual summer camping trip to Boundary Waters, Minnesota. For many of the college kids, it was their second or even third time there, while it was my very first. Frankly, I was a bit hesitant about going because I'm not exactly an outdoorsy person. I do not enjoy getting bitten by ticks, mosquitoes, chiggers, paying a visit to the outhouse, also known as the "flyhouse," nor frolicking with them grizzly bears in the forest. But how would I ever travel to third world countries to spread the good news when I am fearful of such insignificant things? I clenched my fists and decided to go.
When we arrived at the campsite after an 11-hour drive, it was nighttime and the temperature had dropped to the lower 40's. I was so disappointed to find out that the outhouses were nowhere near our site and that the water pump was even farther away. I even had to wash my face and brush my teeth with diluted lemonade because someone had accidentally poured some lemonade powder in the water canteen. That night, as I lay buried inside my sleeping bag with 5 layers of clothing, I prayed to God with a frustrated heart that He would even out the rocky ground that I was sleeping on and that He would stop these two girls in my tent from snoring up a storm. Please God, offer me some comfort. He certainly did not grant me those requests, but He did eventually change my heart.
The next day, all of us awoke from our uneasy rest and spent some time on Genesis 1. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. (Genesis 1:31) And I saw a glimpse of that goodness when I headed out to the lake in a 3-man canoe. The all-embracing sun at the very tip of the sky, the shimmering wavelets of the dark water, the luscious greenery encircling the lake, and the tranquility of the uninhibited air all exuded the beauty of God's creation, undisturbed by man. Imagining what the Garden of Eden would have been like if not for the sin of man, I couldn't help but to feel ashamed for wanting the luxuries that man created to deny God's simple, yet perfect design. My cup overflows with God's providence and I ask for a flushable toilet?
As if God had heard me, the wavelets began growing with the strong wind. At this point, our wooden canoe was in the middle of the lake with three passengers who were trying desperately to keep the canoe from tipping over by doing all sorts of things with the paddles. The other teams were far behind us, offering no relief to the tension that we were feeling. "Stay perpendicular to the waves!" we were shouting to each other. Then the thought that we could all drown in the deep lake flashed past my mind, just like that. Unfortunately, nothing that I so carefully packed could have saved me then. Sleeping peacefully and being warm did not matter anymore.
After a long day of canoeing, I went back to the campsite with a different heart. Although still far from being a humble, obedient, and grateful daughter of God, my eyes were more open than before. Of course all that I considered "uncomfortable" remained, but the magnificence of God's creation tucked them away. Let's just say that for the remainder of the trip, my backpack remained closed and my heart opened.
