Jenga Cabin

Here in northern lower Michigan, I’m waiting for spring to emerge.  Schools were closed this week for a snow day.  I, for one, am ready to move on.  We had a busy, wonderful season of providing dog sled tours and now swing into spring clean up around the farm.   

This year, we are going one step further and working on our main cabin, which I warmly refer to as my “Jenga Cabin”.  (I move, and something falls.)   

Winters are longer in a 15 x 20 cabin where leg room is at a premium.   

This spring, we will be moving out, while changes are taking place.  Two summers ago, we tried to move back to our Bear’s Den cabin, but it didn’t work out.  We found we were too far from the critters.  If not for that, I would have stayed.  I wrote this after a couple nights “out back”. 

 

As I sat in a camp chair on our tiny cabin porch last night, I reflected on our first couple of nights “off grid”.  With the business of summer days rolling into nights, we have basically headed back to the Bear’s Den to crash and sleep.  However, sleep seems to be the last thing that occurs while there.  For me anyway.

As I sat last night, inside the porch, near the screen door, Zip was by my feet, her head just inches from the door.  It was dusk and darkness was closing in.  Earlier, as I walked into the woods, the birds were singing and pats (partridges) were flying up as I neared their nook, but now, it was dead silence except for the gentle snoring of Russ deeper inside the cabin. 

As darkness overcame dusk, the fireflies began their syncopated dance among the trees.  In the distance, I could hear the yipping of a coyote and a neighbor dog, a mile or so away on the wind.  {Our kennel dogs were silent.}  While watching the fireflies burst their light and darken, I thought to myself…is that me?  Am I like a firefly, bursting with the light of Jesus for some to see at times, and then fade out quickly?  Saved by faith and grace, bold for Christ... but only in short staccato bursts? 

As the tiny candle was blown out for the night, and the cabin was immersed in total darkness, my thoughts began.  Laying on my sleeping bag, in complete darkness I thought I must let my light shine.  However, it isn’t anything I, myself, can accomplish.  As I die to myself, Christ will fill me and I will become a cracked pot, with light shining through…  I hope so, for if I can alter one person, just one, who is gambling with this gift of faith and grace, I can help save them from eternal darkness and being separate from God.  

Until next time, dear friends, Lord willing.

Sherry