Psalm 104:2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the
heavens like a tent. (NIV)
I learned how to pitch a tent with my Scout troop at a camp in Scotland called
Auchengillan. Our scout patrol was full of tenderfoots like myself who knew
practically nothing about camping, but we watched the older scouts put up their
tents and tried to copy them.
The tents were nothing like the light nylon ones that we have today. They were
made of old heavy canvas and we used thick ropes with wooden spars to set them
up. It took most of the morning to construct the tent, but once it was up, our
rookie patrol was thrilled. The older scouts, however, were not impressed and
later that night we discovered why.
Firstly, we had chosen the roughest piece of ground to pitch the tent. This
meant that no matter where we positioned our sleeping bags, the hard contours of
the ground dug deeply and painfully into our backs. Secondly, it began to rain
in the middle of the night, causing the canvas and ropes to shrink. Eventually,
our tent collapsed, so we had to re-pitch it during the darkest, coldest and
wettest part of the night. By the time morning came, we were absolutely worn
out.
After breakfast, the older scouts helped us re-pitch our tent properly. They
found smoother ground and showed us how to storm-rig the ropes. When it rained
the following night, we didn’t even notice. Our patrol was sound asleep because
our tent was comfortable and secure.
I like the old passages about tents in the Bible. They remind me that the people
of God were once nomads, wandering the wilderness and camping in different
places. But no matter where they went, they believed that they were secure under
the canopy that God had pitched in the sky. I guess their simplistic view of the
world was not scientific, but it did offer them comfort and strength, faith and
hope that God was watching over them.
Perhaps God doesn’t pitch His tent in the sky any longer, but He does place His
presence in our hearts and minds. And whatever the rough passages in our lives
or the storms that we endure, His promises keep us secure and His love continues
to strengthen our spirits.
Prayer: Lord God, build Your tent in our hearts and pitch Your canopy in our
spirits. Grant us sufficient strength for our daily tasks, and restful sleep
during the night. May we always know of Your abiding love and holy presence each
moment of our days. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart traqair@aol.com
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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