What Really Counts

Our blog probably sounds like the account of an adventurous, entertaining trip full of fun times. This is true for the most part but there have been several situations where we felt far from as heroic and carefree as the blog may make us sound. Heavy traffic, big trucks and blind corners have contributed to numerous scary moments. Not to mention wild camping. Thankfully we have never been bothered by anyone but one time, for example, when we were aleady in our sleeping bags in our tent, tucked away in the woods in Switzerland, a man came through the bush and walked right past our tent. He did not stop and disappeared quickly but it worried us. According to our experience, most people are friendly and kindhearted but when camped out in the bush, a ways from the next town, you are quite vulnerable and an easy victim for someone with unpleasant intentions, or large North American wild life crashing through the woods at night as was the case in Glacier National Park. Thankfully we have been spared from any harm, accident and illness and we can only thank God for that. I know that sofar I have not mentioned much about this in this blog but James and I often get the impression that we have an invisible tour guide who rides ahead of us, brings us into contact with wonderful people and ensures that we get what we need at the right time.
Some of you may be thinking, o Linda and James have gone crazy and fallen into a religious trap. Definitely not, and for me (Linda) my Christian faith has always been an important, yet somewhat hidden part of my life. But this trip has really reconfirmed the existence of a loving, caring, living God to us and how he can be so intimately involved with every aspect of our life here on earth. He even healed my bike from an awful sounding, worrying clicking sound that we could not figure out where it was coming from. Since then, whenever I get scared or worried about the future, I am reminded that if God cares about my bike, he will surely look after me.

It is not my intention to preach to  you, but I just felt the urge to share with you what has become so much more precious and exciting to us than all the sites, landscapes and cultures we have visited. We often find ourselves unsure of what to do or where to go next and it is so comforting to know that our Lord Jesus Christ is in charge of our lives and will lead us a better way than we could ever choose for ourselves.

This Psalm has accompanied us through many tricky situations. I hope you like it:

[[Psa 91:1-16]] KJV
v1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. v2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
v3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
v4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
v5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
v6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
v7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
v8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
v9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
v10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
v11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
v12They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. v13Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
v14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
v15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
v16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.