Lakeside Genesis

Each year we attend a family camp through our church.

I wrote this as a devotion

to relate that very special place and time

to the creation story in the book of Genesis in the Bible.

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More years ago than we can count, it snowed, and froze, and melted, and did this over and over for thousands of years until this land – this very spot – was covered with ice for a long, long, time. The ice scraped the land, moved the rocks and gravel, and finally melted for good – leaving behind this lake which eventually was named “Wildcat.”

And God’s hand was in it all.

The soil was fine and small plants began to grow in the water and on the land. Those plants died and their dried leaves mixed with the fine soil to form a rich, fertile mixture so that larger plants and giant trees could thrive – alders, maples, pines, firs, and hemlocks.

Flowers bloomed and berries ripened – blackberries, raspberries, salmonberries, huckleberries, Oregon grapes and salal.

And God smiled.

Small creatures appeared – insects and spiders of all shapes, sizes and colors; frogs and fish and lizards; mice and moles. Birds flew, pecked and hopped about – chickadees, nuthatches, jays, eagles and osprey, ducks and geese. Squirrels chattered by day, raccoons and coyotes patrolled the night.

And God was pleased.

Forward-thinking people found this particular spot and decided to set it aside for future generations – to make it a haven separate from the steel and concrete of the city;

a quiet retreat from the busy-ness of everyday life where people of all ages could play, rest, and enjoy this creation and each other.

 And I believe God says that this is good.

God blessed them and said to them,

"Be fruitful and increase in number;

fill the earth and subdue it.

Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air

and over every living creature

that moves on the ground."

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

And there was evening, and there was morning

- the sixth day.

Genesis 1:28 & 31

"you are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being."

Revelation 4:11