This has been an interesting week. My favorite mode of travel is a road trip. We’re on one right now.

Sunday, right after the early service, we hopped into our loaded truck pulling a 19 foot trailer. In the back seat, our puppy Rudy was in his own special seat. Close to dusk, we arrived at our first stop, a golf course in Idaho. It was beautiful. We strolled the golf course, giving Rudy a good walk, enjoyed a quick meal, and went to bed. That’s pretty much the same each day. Get up, put things away, hop in the truck and head east.

We’ve been staying with Harvest Host— campsites in different venues for a yearly fee. We stay in a traditional campground when we need to fill our tanks (and empty others).

As we drove through Nebraska, I thought about my heritage. I was born in Nebraska, but only lived in the state for four years. But some family still lived in the state and there were visits here often in my childhood. It’s different driving as an adult. I don’t sit in the back seat trying to establish my own space among my siblings.

At last, we arrived at our camping spot. A place called Anchor Farms. This was not one of the large farms scattered throughout Nebraska, but smaller acreage where the owner raised grazing pigs. They’re called Kunekune pigs, originally from New Zealand. They are friendly beasts and come right up to the fence! The owner explained their meat is less fatty because they enjoy grazing in the fields. She also showed us one of their more than twenty bee hives. Early evening the bees “beard”. It looks like a beard where the non-essential bees were “sweeping the porch”. Then they go back inside for the night. It was idyllic. We enjoyed a soft breeze, gazed at a beautiful sunset, and settled for bed.

One of the disadvantages of camping off the grid:  no power. You depend on your batteries and propane  for lights and refrigeration. That meant in the 90-something temps, there was no AC. That’s fine when just sitting around, sipping a beverage, reading a book. But when trying to sleep it’s nearly impossible! We tossed and turned most of the night, got ready to leave in the morning. We waved goodbye to our host and headed east, towards St. Louis, Missouri. As we drove Jim said, “Let’s see if we can get into the campground for your conference instead of staying where we planned.” We were able to get in early and we knew with AC, we’d be able to sleep.

As we neared our destination, St. Peter’s, MO, the darkening sky began to rumble. Lightening flashed and soon, we were in a downpour! Not like our misty, NW rain, but buckets of rain hit our windshield.

We found our assigned campsite, Jim got out to hook things up and Rudy and I waited inside. The storm was violent with zig zag bursts of lightening and ominous sounding thunder. The camper shook as the rain poured down. A few minutes later, Jim came inside, completely soaked to the skin, and said, “We’re all hooked up.”

The storm passed. I said to Jim, “Rudy wasn’t even bothered by the noisy storm!”

“You’re right!”

As I dropped off to sleep, I thought about Rudy and how he was perfectly comfortable in spite of the noisy storm. He knew we’d take care of him.

I wish, I could be as comfortable when storms of life come my way. Our Lord reminded the disciples when they feared the storm they’d endured in the fishing boat:

“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40 NIV).

I am learning as I grow older—and deeper in my trust in Jesus, but this was a reminder to me. I know I can trust that wherever I am, He will be with me and I don’t have to fear.

I love the reminder in the Psalms:

“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 42:10a NIV);

Perhaps just like me, you need a reminder that our God is in control even when the storms of life hit us with furious winds. We need only believe He is there.

How do you handle the storms in your in life? Perhaps you need to remember as I do, to be still and know.