Be still and know

I’m sitting on the back deck of a cabin at Stillwoods Camp in British Columbia about an hour north of Vancouver. From the deck I’m looking out over a beautiful lake with a backdrop of majestic mountains; out the front door is another huge mountain range. Truly an awe-inspiring setting that was draped in clouds as I took my morning walk around the campground this morning. There are rustic cottages, a beautiful cafeteria that serves up to 2000 meals a day, playgrounds , rock climbing walls for the younger more adventurous set and more buildings and activities that I have time and space to explain; suffice it to say that if it were a hotel it would definitely be a “Five Star”!

But it wasn’t always this way. When we first visited this campground about 16-17 years ago it was a run down hodge-podge of buildings and very used equipment in need of a one way trip to the dump or recycle yard. That all began to change when our dear friends Harry and Gail Edwards, who were already seniors, took over as Camp Directors 20 years ago. Very soon after their arrival with a new vision, new energy and leadership, one by one those old buildings and the trash began to disappear. With each of our successive visits over the years, we have seen incredible improvements; not only in the buildings and facilities but most importantly in the people…….both temporary and full time staff (two of our sons have been blessed to work hear during a couple summers) and in those who come as visitors who come to “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10). In fact, many of the visitors today are successive generations to previous visitors.

Every time we visit there is something new rising up from the ground. This time it’s a brand new 7000 square foot chapel that’s still under construction and due to open in the fall. Walking around this campground and enjoying its views and comfortable amenities, you could easily get the very false impression that this place has always been a forward moving facility with gifted leadership and a generous benefactor or donor base. Not so!

If you could only know the background story to the rebirth of this camp you would know that it was reborn out of extreme adversity. I wish I had the time, space and freedom to share with you the details of that rebirth but I will just ask you to trust me. It was the kind of adversity that God often allows when He wants to “…..Take away the first to establish the second” (Heb. 10:9b). I remember when I was going through a similar personal trauma in 2001, a pastor who I didn’t and still don’t know his name, used that very scripture passage to explain to me (through his sermon that day) that when God wants to change your circumstances it can often be painful, at least in the short run; kind of like digging down to cut the roots of a tree so you can replant it somewhere else. If the tree had feelings it would definitely be painful!

So here is my admonition for the day. Many of us as seniors are facing or will face adverse circumstances in the coming days and years. As those challenges come, I encourage you to seek a quiet, and preferably beautiful, place where you can “Be still and know that He is God”. And, if you will allow Him, He will direct your paths into what is best for you; but also know the corollary, that if you fight Him, or try to take matters into your own hands,………then watch out!

Thanks for reading All About Seniors…..see you next week!

PS My wife just snapped a picture over my shoulder. If you’d like to share the view with me go to our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/visitingangelsmacon.

Bill Milby, CSA, is a Certified Senior Advisor and a Director of Visiting Angels® of Macon, a non-medical, living assistance service for seniors. If you have questions or comments about this column you can reach him at william.mercylink@gmail.com.

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