The Journey

The camel is built by God to face the challenges of a harsh environment.  We too are built to withstand a great deal of adversity in our lives.  The difference between the camel and the human is how we are built to withstand such trying circumstances.

The camel is built to physically withstand harsh desert conditions with little food or water.This has allowed the camel to become a widely used mode of transport for long journeys in lesser developed parts of the middle east.  

We too can survive difficulties but it is less because of our physical abilities and much more related to our faith and ability to make decisions.  God has designed us to seek after Him, and given us the ability to reason and make decisions.  We don't always do either of these as He would desire.  In the book of Ecclesiastes God lays out the path we should take in chapter 12 verses 13 and 14; 

13 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter

Fear God and keep His commandments,

 For this is man's all.  

14 For God will bring every work into judgment,

 Including every secret thing,

Whether good or evil."

God has set in us a need to seek after Him, some will and some won't.  That is the stark reality of free will.  When we encounter difficulties it is far better to have that relationship with our maker.  The ability to seek Him in prayer.  In His church there is great support as we are encouraged to bear one another's burdens and to exhort one another in good times and bad.

Yes we each need to make a decision to take care of our physical well being by making better choices related to our diet, our activity level, our hydration, our amount and quality of sleep as each of these have a tremendous impact on our health.  An even bigger YES is that we need to take care of our spiritual life as well.  Many of us face chronic disease processes, others have very acute medical conditions, some that are life threatening, others face relationship or marital struggles, and still others may be facing financial crises.  It is during these difficult times that the relationships we have built with God and with others of like mind will give us the spiritual and emotional reserves we need, much like the camel has the physical stores to journey through the desert.

Our journey is unique to each of us, the trials we face are often due to poor decisions we have made.  Others are thrust upon us.  Are we ready?  Will we be able to sail the stormy seas of life just as the camels are known as the ships of the desert?  

My encouragement to you today is to examine yourself.  Are you physically prepared for your journey, and more importantly are you spiritually prepared?  If you have taken care of these two aspects then despite the uneven ways and difficulties that arise you are prepared to Do Well.