Badlands from Alberta
By the time we arrived in Drumheller, Alberta, we were already mesmerized by
the unusual, rugged beauty of the Badlands. "This is the place where they found
thousands of dinosaur skeletons." I mentioned to my eager-to-get-out-of-the-car
kids.
"That's nice," was their unimpressed response. But then the excitement crept
back into their voices: "What kinds of activities are there at the campground?
Is there a pool? Mini-golf? Horseshoes?"
The campground where we had made our reservations actually sounded pretty
exciting on paper, and as we drove the last few kilometers, I read through the
description. My wife concluded the list by saying, "We're staying here three
nights. You guys can put up your tent, if you want!"
After having had to spend the last two nights in the tent trailer, they were
excited by this prospect, and we entered the campground office in a jolly mood,
completely unaware of what we were up against.
"It will be $52.43 per night, taxes included, naturally."
The campground employee stated this as if it was purely matter-of-fact, but to a
family who was used to paying between 20$ and 30$ for a camping spot, it was far
from matter-of-fact: "$52.43!!!!!" I cried. "You must be kidding! There must be
a mistake somewhere. We only have a tent-trailer, and all we need is water and
electricity!"
But my arguing got us nowhere. "Sorry, sir, all of our sites have all amenities
(whatever that means). It's a long weekend and . . . And you DO have two kids .
. ."
I couldn't keep the incredibility from my voice: "What do my kids have to do
with this?"
"We charge more if you have children. 5$ per child per night."
I realized my mouth was hanging open and I made a manful effort to close it.
"Kids," I said, trying to lighten the burden of truth with a joke, "you will
have to sleep in the car outside of the campground tonight!" Then turning back
to the attendant, I asked: "Can we get a discount now?"
My boys eyed me suspiciously. You could read their thoughts on their faces:
Would he dare?
"Sorry sir. It still will be $52.43 per night, no matter where your kids sleep."
Yikes! And I had reserved three nights at that campground!
"And please remember not to put a doormat or anything else on our grass,
otherwise you will be fined."
I couldn't stop myself: "Can we step on your grass for free or is there a fee
for that too?"
"Next!"
As we began the process of setting up our trailer, my boys, naturally, wanted to
pitch their tent as well. "Can we, papa? Can we?"
"I don't know," my wife interjected, her voice echoing caution. "Maybe you'd
better check at the office, first!"
They had already met the attendant at the front desk, and none of us could blame
them when they said, "Do we have to?"
"I think you better!" Insisted my wife. "They don't want us putting down mats,
maybe they won't want us putting down a tent either!"
Ten minutes later, unsmiling boys were back.
"You won't believe this! They charge $15 a night to pitch an extra tent on a
site!" You could see that they were crushed. "No other campground we've been to
has ever charged us for putting up our tent!"
"Well, we aren't at one of those other campgrounds," I concluded. "We are here
in the very special dinosaur valley of Alberta, where hundreds and thousands of
tourists flock every year, and they are obviously trying to collect all the
necessary funds to start digging for their own oil!"
My wife, who had been reading the long list of campground rules, looked up at
this point: "Did you know that we have to pay to use the dumping station?"
I looked at her, my mouth gaping. We'd never had to pay to empty our
port-a-potty before!
"5$!" Finished my wife.
"I have an idea, papa." It was my oldest. "We have 'all amenities' on this site.
Doesn't that mean sewer? Why don't we dump our port-a-potty in the sewer outlet?
They couldn't charge us then, could they?"
What an ingenious idea. In fact, there had been a sewer connection at most of
the campsites we had stayed in. Why hadn't we thought of this before? At least
the 5$ dumping fee had taught us something! No longer would we have to parade
around a campground displaying our overflowing, smelly portable toilet! "Great
idea, son!"
Other campground costs were soon to be discovered as well. $2.50 per laundry
load (instead of the typical $1.25), $1 for a 5 minute shower (was heat extra?),
$1 rental for one horseshoe….
"It would have been cheaper to sleep at a hotel!" Piped up my son.
"You're right!" I agreed. "But we're here now, so let's try to make the best of
it."
Although the campground was beautiful, all of the expenses had diminished our
enthusiasm. In fact, when we finally left, the boys were rejoicing: "Tonight,
we'll be able to set up our tent FOR FREE!!!!"
All things in life have a cost. Some things cost more than others, but nothing
is free, not in this world. There are always strings attached.
The most expensive item I have ever encountered in life is something called sin.
Most of us would rather live without it, but we don't have that choice. And its
price tag is well hidden from view, too. The reason we are all affected by it is
as follows: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…" (Rom 3:23
NIV)
For some of us, this disease manifests itself through thefts, no matter how
insignificant they may be. Others are more inclined to lying. Still others are
affected through pornography. The list could go on and on and on, but only one
thing though is clear: sin is not easy to shake off. It clings to us, often
turning into lifelong addictions.
"But what is the hidden cost?"
It is expensive, believe me. Its price tag is more than all of your possessions
combined: "For the wages of sin is death…" (Rom 6:23 NIV)
"But is there any way out of this?'
I know of some who tried to live honest lives, but still their actions were
infected by sin. The only way out is through Jesus. He willingly paid the price
for our sin so that we could experience eternal life: "…but the gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 6:23 NIV); and "You see, at just
the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very
rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might
possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we
were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom 5:6-8 NIV)
Through Jesus, we can overcome the addictions of sin and live a victorious,
forgiven life: "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that
Jesus is the Son of God." (1 John 5:5 NIV)
He is waiting to help you out. Come and experience Him into your life, and you
will wonder why you waited so long to accept Him as your Forever friend!
P. S. Do you need the address of an $$$$$ campground in Alberta? Be prepared by
bringing a wallet full of cash!
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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