8/23/24

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances ... whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11, 12b-13)

St. Paul may have been able to confidently write "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances," but as for me, I know all too well that I keep having to re-learn it over and over. Every summer I get a crash course during our annual two-week road trip.

The photo above is from our trip out east last summer, but this year we went to a couple of places in Ontario and Quebec. Whatever the destination, we always spend some of our time living in "plenty" (comfortable Airbnb accommodations or hotel) and some living in "want" (camping in a tent or very basic cabin, having to walk to the bathrooms or to the water spout).

The camping, along with all the various inconveniences of living out of various backpacks, bags, and containers for two weeks, always stretches me in good ways. It keeps forcing me to accept a state of Less-Than-Ideal, whether it's the quality of my coffee, the amount of alone time I get in the mornings, or the level of chaos in our van ("Where is the _____?"... "It's at the bottom of that bag that we stuffed underneath the ____ and behind the _____.")  

Although I love our summer road trips (and strangely, I love tent camping and tend to push back strongly whenever one of the kids says we should just stick to cabins), I do get very accustomed to offering my little prayer of resignation:

"It is enough, Lord. Thank you."

Taking a slow, deep breath as I silently pray these words makes a huge difference in how I respond to the annoying circumstance, whatever it is. And whether right away or later on, a feeling of peace will come that tells me what I'm being given that day is not only enough; there is something GOOD in it.

Less-Than-Ideal teaches me how to be poor in spirit, as Jesus calls me to be in Matthew's version of the Beatitudes, Mt. 5:3. It widens my tunnel vision and makes new things possible. Like this stunning view of the Niagara River gorge (from this year's trip) that I almost didn't see. I was tired, annoyed by a couple of little Less-Than-Ideal things about the morning and anticipating others to come that day, and didn't feel like getting out of the car and walking across the parking lot to the lookout point. Thankfully, I changed my mind.

Now as we're back at home, back in our school year routines, I'm praying for the grace to still be able to access my "camping self" when things don't go according to my supposedly perfect plan, so I don't miss the benefits that can come from praying my "It is enough, Lord, thank you" and coming with open hands to receive something good.