March 3

Lindsay Close is former summer assistant director and wilderness guide at Camp Fowler.

Psalm 19:1-6

In a world that is filled with the constant chatter of messages, texts, tweets, posts, and pins, I find sweet relief in the image of God’s glory and magnificence spreading silently across the earth. With ever-increasing expectations to be constantly connected, we are called during this Lenten season to simply step back, be still, and be quietly filled with the wonder of God’s presence all around us.

It is often difficult to stop long enough to truly experience and acknowledge God’s presence, which is why it is necessary to seek out those elusive places where the mind, heart, body, and soul are all fully present at the same time. These are the “thin places”—the places where we are most aware of God’s presence, where the noisy distractions of our world drop away and we are able to fully appreciate the wonder of God’s amazing creation.

As the hectic pace of life and work looms this Lent, let us remember the grace that can be found in the “thin places” around us. Whether it is a weekend hike up north, an early morning paddle across a lake, or a stroll through the backyard, it is these bits of wilderness that connect us to God. They remind us to slow down, to look up, and to be humbled by the power, wonder, and grace of God that surround us.

Prayer: Creator God, help us to be still, to slow down, and to turn our eyes and ears to the heavens that quietly tell your glory and declare the works of your hands. Amen.

For this year’s Lent devotions, the days follow the Common Lectionary texts. Each author was invited to: 1.Read the passage.
2.Read a couple passages before and after the assigned day.
3.Do something else for the day, keeping the passage in mind.
4.Find a word/phrase/concept that connects with your own experience. Reflect on that.
You are encouraged to do the same.

February 28

Steven Bouma-Prediger is a professor of religion at Hope College, a Camp Fowler summer volunteer, and a camper/staff parent.

Mark 9:2-9

“This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”

The day was cold and crystal clear. My students and I began our ascent early, and after a few hours came to the summit block. The trail, now above tree line, went straight up over grey granite, scraped clean by wind and rain. As we reached the summit of Mt. Marcy, the highest mountain in New York, we had a 360-degree view of the High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. We could see Algonquin to the west, Skylight to the south, Gothics to the east, and Lake Placid to the north. It seemed like we were in heaven.

In this famous passage in Mark, we read of Jesus and three of his disciples climbing a high mountain. Strange things can happen on mountains. In this case, Jesus is transfigured, bathed in white light, and the two greatest prophets in Jewish history appear with Jesus. Peter thinks he is in heaven and blurts out a half-baked idea about pitching tents and camping out. But a commanding voice—God’s voice—speaks and makes clear that the greatest prophet is Jesus, the Beloved Son. And this Jesus, the Word “tenting among us” (John 1:14), is the Messiah who aims to finish what Moses and Elijah started—the redemption of the world. So why wouldn’t we listen to him?

Prayer: O Lord, help us to listen to your Son, that we may do your will on earth.
For this year’s Lent devotions, the days follow the Common Lectionary texts. Each author was invited to:
Read the passage.
Read a couple passages before and after the assigned day.
Do something else for the day, keeping the passage in mind.
Find a word/phrase/concept that connects with your own experience. Reflect on that.
You are encouraged to do the same.

February 25
Kent Busman is Camp Fowler’s executive director.

Romans 4:13-15

This is a classic text that drives people crazy both inside and outside of the faith. Paul runs us through the hoops of “law” and “faith” and “wrath” and “promise.” He gets us all tangled up like some fifth grader’s fishing line. And we focus on untangling the line, while totally missing the beauty that surrounds us.

For me, the beauty slips in at the beginning of this text. “For the promise that he would inherit the world…” is Paul’s introduction. Camp Fowler is in part of the world where you can still see its inherent loveliness and integrity. It’s a world, in fact, that would be a wonderful inheritance.

As we struggle this Lent between law and its fear (you’ll catch that later in these devotions) and faith with its promises (also evident in these musings), let us not forget that God promises no far-away world, but one that is still beneath our feet. It would do us good to look up every now and then from trying to untangle our theologies and remember that.

Prayer: For Saint Abraham we give thanks, who looked up from his world and saw you, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

For this year’s Lent devotions, the days follow the Common Lectionary texts. Each author was invited to: 1.Read the passage.
2.Read a couple passages before and after the assigned day.
3.Do something else for the day, keeping the passage in mind.
4.Find a word/phrase/concept that connects with your own experience. Reflect on that.
You are encouraged to do the same.

February 20
Becca Flinker is on summer staff at Camp Fowler and is currently a senior at Hope College, studying music.

Mark 1:9-11

“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.”

How often I forget that Jesus humbled himself before his Father and was baptized! It seems like such a human thing to do. And indeed, admitting all human-ness, he chose to be washed and renewed in the Jordan River. He set an example for all of us, demonstrating that we are never too important to humble ourselves before the Lord.

I often need to ask the Lord to help me remember that just as God claimed Jesus in that moment—“You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased”—so he has also acknowledged me. Even in all my brokenness and doubt, I have been marked as a beloved child of the Creator. What a gift!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for setting such a brilliant example for how we should live. Draw my attention to the ways in which I can submit to your will and teach me to walk in your ways.

For this year’s Lent devotions, the days follow the Common Lectionary texts. Each author was invited to: 1.Read the passage.
2.Read a couple passages before and after the assigned day.
3.Do something else for the day, keeping the passage in mind.
4.Find a word/phrase/concept that connects with your own experience. Reflect on that.
You are encouraged to do the same.