“Relationships live in conversations.”
I reread that quote recently. I had highlighted it the first time I came across it. Something can be said for “body language,” and the ability for two people to communicate without saying a word, but undoubtedly, real, meaningful, and vital relationships find their life in conversations between two (or more) people.
As I considered that phrase again, I thought of conversations at Sebring Camp Meeting. Camp Meeting folk often speak of “picking up their conversation where they left off a year ago.” There seems to be an uncanny ability to do that for those who have spent ten days living together, or for those of you who drive on campus, a concentrated time focused on the same activities. As you know, the phenomenon of a diverse group of people living and/or coming together for a ten day period of time is a rare occurrence in our society. It can make for some great conversations.
I can recall conversations about triumphs of the previous year, and the heartaches. I remember hearing of the anticipated prospects for the coming year, and anxiety about approaching problems. I recollect that I have really gotten to know a person because I have listened to their conversation, and they have listened to mine.
Then, of course, at camp meeting time, there are those conversations we have with God. I know that God is not more real, or more accessible at camp meeting. However, I do know that I am more accessible to Him, maybe more real, too. Perhaps it’s because I can lay down some of the roles and responsibilities of life for a few days, and rekindle the divine conversation.
So, at camp meeting time, I would like to invite you to join the conversation(s). There will be old friendships to renew and new ones to initiate. There will be opportunities to expand our thinking, and focus our hearts. Most importantly, great worship, music, preaching, teaching, and fellowship will give us occasion to converse with our Heavenly Father.
In the same book in which I found the above quote, the authors also add, “The most important conversation to generate is the conversation for the future,”---quite right from an earthly perspective. I’m sure we’ll have conversations about the past, the present, and the future. And if no one else mentions it, God, for sure, will bring up the little matter of eternity!
See you at Camp Meeting time!
I reread that quote recently. I had highlighted it the first time I came across it. Something can be said for “body language,” and the ability for two people to communicate without saying a word, but undoubtedly, real, meaningful, and vital relationships find their life in conversations between two (or more) people.
As I considered that phrase again, I thought of conversations at Sebring Camp Meeting. Camp Meeting folk often speak of “picking up their conversation where they left off a year ago.” There seems to be an uncanny ability to do that for those who have spent ten days living together, or for those of you who drive on campus, a concentrated time focused on the same activities. As you know, the phenomenon of a diverse group of people living and/or coming together for a ten day period of time is a rare occurrence in our society. It can make for some great conversations.
I can recall conversations about triumphs of the previous year, and the heartaches. I remember hearing of the anticipated prospects for the coming year, and anxiety about approaching problems. I recollect that I have really gotten to know a person because I have listened to their conversation, and they have listened to mine.
Then, of course, at camp meeting time, there are those conversations we have with God. I know that God is not more real, or more accessible at camp meeting. However, I do know that I am more accessible to Him, maybe more real, too. Perhaps it’s because I can lay down some of the roles and responsibilities of life for a few days, and rekindle the divine conversation.
So, at camp meeting time, I would like to invite you to join the conversation(s). There will be old friendships to renew and new ones to initiate. There will be opportunities to expand our thinking, and focus our hearts. Most importantly, great worship, music, preaching, teaching, and fellowship will give us occasion to converse with our Heavenly Father.
In the same book in which I found the above quote, the authors also add, “The most important conversation to generate is the conversation for the future,”---quite right from an earthly perspective. I’m sure we’ll have conversations about the past, the present, and the future. And if no one else mentions it, God, for sure, will bring up the little matter of eternity!
See you at Camp Meeting time!
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