“How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” – Psalm 104:24 NIV
As we prepared to go to the Boundary Waters, one of the campers said, “I hope we see a bear!” To be honest, I hope we don’t, at least not in our camp. Bears are one of God’s many marvelous creatures. They eat all summer and sleep all winter, and somehow it all evens out. They can run, swim, and climb faster than any human. And they are so cute, we make little stuffed teddy bears to give to our children to help them sleep.
But I know from experience that in the Boundary Waters bears and sleep don’t mix. Many years ago, one of my church groups didn’t hang the food pack quite high enough in the tree. A bear was able to stand on its hind legs and just reach the bottom of the pack. It sliced it open with its claws, and some food fell to the ground, where it was quickly devoured. But the rest of the food was stuck in the pack just out of reach of the bear. So the bear decided to lay down under the pack for the night. The campers summoned their courage, gathered their flashlights and moved toward the bear, shouting and banging pots. The bear growled and would not leave. Needless to say, the campers did not sleep that night.
So, while some campers want to see a bear in the Boundary Waters, I’m hoping for a moose. One year, I had one walk through camp and start feeding on water plants not 15 feet away. It was a majestic sight (and we didn’t lose any of our food.)
Most years we don’t see a bear or a moose, but we always see something. The earth is full of God’s creatures. And I always get a thrill seeing youth discover God’s marvelous creation through these Boundary Waters trips. But you don’t have to go to the Boundary Waters to see God’s handiwork. Look around and you’ll discover wonders right where you are.
Pastor Mark