Day 36: Stop talking, start doing

Posted by Mike Vandermause on

By Mike Vandermause

This past week my wife, Cindy, and I bought a pop-up camper. We had been talking about doing this for years, but there was always a good excuse to put it off. Yet the dream never died.

Rather than staying at a boring hotel when traveling, we prefer the adventures of being outdoors. Walking in the woods is good for the soul. Taking in water views is inspiring. Getting away from the hustle and bustle of every-day life, if only for a little while, is appealing. 

Maybe that’s why we finally stopped talking about the camper idea and decided to do something about it.

Make no mistake, we will not be living in five-star luxury on our road trips. We bought a used pop-up that isn’t particularly large. But compared to tenting, it’s a major step up with a furnace, refrigerator, gas stove and water heater.

But those amenities are minor compared to a more important feature. This camper will provide opportunities to grow and develop relationships in the coming years.

Our grandkids are already excitedly preparing to go camping with “Gammy and Gampy.” Our grown kids are also warming to the idea — a pop-up sounds like the Ritz-Carlton compared to the musty, leaky tent we used to set up in the dark on family vacations. We even have some friends who wouldn’t be caught dead in a tent but are open to the idea of spending a weekend with us in our “new” camper.

One of our missions in life is to engage in relationships, whether at work, home, school, out in the community, or under the stars sitting by a campfire.

The Great Commission used to conjure up lofty notions of missionary work overseas or street evangelism. But what it really comes down to for each of us is building relationships, one person at a time.

In the remaining time God gives me on this earth, I want to possess an “open hands, open heart” posture. It’s developing an attitude that states: “Use me, God, however you see fit.” For this season of our life, I believe God can somehow and in some way use us in the great outdoors. 

So what is it for you? Is there something you’ve been talking about doing for years, and the time has come to finally act on it?

Rick Warren reminds us in Day 36 that each of us was made for a mission. I can’t wait to get started on this new opportunity.

Mike Vandermause is communications director at Green Bay Community Church