the journey begins...

5/30/08
I intend to keep this blog updated so that those of you who wish to know about what is going on in my life, especially with camp this summer and the adventures that that will bring, can get a small taste…if I keep up with it. Currently I am in day two of my mini-roadtrip to New Frontiers (the camp I am working at this summer). This “roadtrip” has involved a stop at Georgia Tech, hanging out with some of the guys from my hall in the Atlanta area, stopping by Covenant College(my school) to say hey to some people, and eventually ending up in DeKalb County, Tennessee at New Frontiers. All in all, it’s a 3-day “journey”. (I am hesitant to know what to call this “trek” up to camp, which is why I am putting parentheses around every attempt.) Right now I am in Chattanooga, TN, planning on staying the night up at Covenant, and then heading north for the final leg of the trip tomorrow.

I am very anxious about what this experience will be like this summer. I am going to be living in the middle of Nowhereville, Tennessee, working with an entire staff of people that I do not know, in charge of things (such as ropes courses, big swings, horseback riding, caving, kayaking, etc.) that are potentially dangerous if not done right, being surrounded by little kids (and big kids) for two months…but at the same time I am so excited about what God will do and what I will learn this summer. It will be an awesome experience. I covet your prayers for me in that regard.

There is one thing that I found extremely interesting on my drive up, and that is the issue of gas. I never thought that the rising gas prices would affect me to the extent that it has, besides simply getting upset and trying to conserve the gas that I use. I found myself researching gas prices before the trip, seeing what cities off of I-75 had the cheapest gas. I would pull of the interstate if I saw a billboard with really low gas prices, even if I didn’t need gas (I did this once and realized that I was fooled by a billboard that had not updated its prices) and that just wasted my time. I also noticed that quite a few gas stations were now out of business, a lot more than I would have thought. And here’s a question: why is it that some cities have cheaper gas than others? I have no clue. It didn’t seem to have anything to do with location at all. Gas in Ocala, FL was $3.83 and then up in Lake City, FL it was $3.99. Yet just a few miles north on one of the last exits in Florida, the price was $3.77…simply random. Macon and Tifton, GA, were both $3.85, Atlanta was $3.99-$4.03, and from Dalton to Fort Ogelthorpe the price $3.75. I am befuddled; there’s got to be an explanation…right?

Currently I am sitting by the river at Coolidge Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I find it amazing that whenever the sun is just about to go down it turns everything gold. The water, rocks, trees. Everything appears all the more magnificent by the beauty of an ordinary sunset. How is it that at this short span of time can cause so much beauty and peace? Nature is simply reflecting the glory of God. And that makes me wonder how this tree this river can do that better than I can…how come the glory of God is not seen beaming out of my being. My feet, hands, face, yes even my earlobes and kneecaps, the very essence of me should be reflecting the golden beauty of the glory of the King. The truth is, we have created substitutes that suck this beauty out of us…this is evident by my excitement of winning a bid on ebay vs. my dull happiness when reminded of Christ’s sacrifice for me. These little trinkets are shiny enough to distract us from the real sunlight. Almost like choosing fluorescent lighting over natural light just outside the window (which I found that some guys do prefer, after living in a college dorm for 3 years…I think that’s stupid). It is at times like these that I see my foolishness and yearn to make God my magnificent obsession. We are afraid to look at something so bright straight on for fear of losing our sight, yet that is our only hope. To be blinded so that we can finally see…please pray for me; that I would make God my magnificent obsession.

Until later…peace out,
Loho