A number of years ago, up on New Direction Farm, we hosted a week long summer camp for boys who were living at a nearby children’s home.  Their director felt it would be good for these guys to spend time up on the mountain, hiking, sitting around campfires, learning how to work in the carpentry shop.  We were quite excited to welcome these 8 young men, most of whom had never been out in the woods.  It never occurred to us this was the last place they wanted to spend a week.  They were not happy campers.

The problem actually began before they arrived on property due to their preconceived expectations of a week in the wilderness. We weren’t sure if this had been given to them as a bill of goods by their staff convincing them to come or if this was of their own making. Shooting guns, wild horseback rides, video games, were not on our agenda. 

Another disparity was we were all Caucasian. They were all African American. We did not see that as a problem. In our eyes they were simply boys who were coming for a week of our sharing life with them. They did not want to do life with us.  Needless to say “resistance” was the banner flying over their troop. 

Wouldn’t you know the month before as we were preparing for the camp, the Lord had given us the theme “The Power of God” for the week’s devotions.  For good reason.

These 8 boys hated authority.  It was apparent they were greatly out of their comfort zone which was masked by a herd bravado of “we ain’t doing nothing you tell us to do”.  Back in those days we had great resolve to tenaciously keep bringing boys back to the basics of the God designed pecking order of obedience to godly authority.  The Holy Spirit provides great strength as well as restraint when face to face with obstinate boys.  Each day we made it through from sunrise to sunset.  Each rising of the sun we were met with their continued posturing against us.

Day three devotion we read following breakfast:  “The Lord does whatever pleases Him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths. He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; He sends lightning with rain and brings out the wind from His storehouses.”  Psalm 135:6-7 

On the day’s agenda was a two mile hike to a high pasture and a picnic lunch.  A gentleman who was volunteering with us for the week as well as another staff person and I were the designated leaders of the hike. As we were halfway to our destination the gentleman commented, “I have never heard so much complaining in my life.” He tried to divert the boys attention by pointing out the amazing views, the sky, the birds, a deer in the woods………..all fell to dust. One of the boys said “I hate birds.”

We finally made it to our destination and began eating our lunches……replete with negative comments about the food (Really?  How can you go wrong with ham and cheese sandwiches and chips?) After lunch there was a little bit of a football game until we heard thunder at a distance and fast approaching dark clouds.  The weather report for the day was totally sunny. Unknown to the weather man God had different plans.

Rain began pouring.  There was no place for us to take shelter so we started walking back the 2 miles to the farm. One of the boys said, “Call the head dude and have him pick us up.”  This was before cell phones existed.  Fortunately the gentleman who was with us was knowledgeable about safety in such situations and taught us how to separate and squat in place to protect our bodies in the event lightning was striking near.  I had always heard that if there is no count between lightning and thunder you are right in the center of the storm.  There was no count.

We commenced to heading back, rain soaked, thunder booming, lightning lighting up the woods. As we walked closely along the mountainside, single file, arm’s length distance between each of us, whenever John said “stop and squat” we did so.  Not a sound came from the boys. When lightning struck the puddle right next to us where our faithful dog, Lucy, was standing, causing her to yelp we became even more soberly aware of the danger.  At this point a few of the boys began to whimper.  The three of us adults began praying out loud calling upon Jesus to protect us and get us back safely.

We made it back.  Never did a shower or an evening meal bring such comfort.  Lucy was fine.  All was well.  And the boys?  For the rest of the week they were no longer postured against us.  The storm had humbled them.  We actually were sad to see them leave.  I have often wondered if any of them remember that week when God’s power was displayed so magnificently along with His care of us.

This season of storm with the corona virus has challenged each and everyone.  There are those who have lost loved ones but are unable to gather and grieve in normal tradition; those who have lost jobs and perhaps will lose businesses; children who have lost structure of school and playtime with friends; high school and college seniors wrestling with the disappointment of missed milestones……..the list of loss is endless.  Perhaps what is most challenging for all is the uncertainty of what lies ahead.

There is an account in scripture in which Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” They got into a boat, heading out toward the opposite shore when a “furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.  Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.  The disciples woke Him and said to Him ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’  He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to His disciples “why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”  They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him.”  (Mark 4:35-41)

He is the same God beckoning for us to trust Him as He extends His hand to walk with us into the great unknown of tomorrow.  He is the only One Who truly knows what tomorrow will bring.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.” 1Peter 5:6     

Thank you For Walking With us to the other side,

The Mustard Seed Families

New Direction Mustard Seed    PO Box 18745,  Asheville, NC 28814 www.newdirectionmustardseed.com