Duncan’s Reflections: Winter Days and Summer Nights

Praise the Lord from the earth … lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars (Ps. 148:7-9).

Fifty years ago my wife and I first came to Beacon, bringing groups of High School students as well as our daughters. Back then we were given the camp names of Duncan & Hines, perhaps because Duncan Hines was someone’s favourite cake mix!

Since then, we’ve come in every season and every kind of weather. We always saw the hand of God in the exquisite beauty of the rocks and trees, bare or covered in snow, the sunny days when time stood still, and the powerful storms that made the trees sing.

I’ll never forget our X-country ski hikes in those early years. Together with a group of 8 students, we’d blaze a trail through deep snow. Up the rocky hills, along the train tracks, down the hill, and onto the 3rd lake. (Beacon had no snowmobiles in those days.) The first skier would make the initial cut in the deep snow, with the 2nd and 3rd skiers also working hard. We’d take turns. When we took a break, there was a profound stillness, as deep snow is so effective in absorbing sound.

Another indelible memory is a summer evening at one of the adult camps. John and I decided to go for a late paddle under the stars. Unknown to us, that was the night God had decided to place in the sky above the lake an enormous, scintillating blue-green band - the Northern Lights. What an awesome, unique display!

Northern Lights only appear every decade or so, when the Sun is in the active part of its cycle. Fortunately, it's reaching its peak activity in the year 2025. So, this summer and the next two might give us some remarkable displays. Often, however, they don't come out until near midnight. (You can see them well from up the ridge on the other side of the railway crossing. So, there’s no need to go out on the lake at night, as we did!)

In Psalm 104, the poet considers all these wonderful aspects of nature – brilliant light, clouds, winds, even deep snow – as God’s clothes and chariot: “Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendour and majesty. The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment … He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind” (Ps. 104:1-2). That’s why we give “eyes to creation” at Beacon, as well as “hearts to God.”

So far, I’ve only reflected on winter and summer at Beacon. Spring and Fall have many other special things to show us. But that’s for another time. Meanwhile, as we reflect on the many things we’ve seen at Beacon, we can just repeat the final verse of the Psalms. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” (Ps. 150:6).

Delight in the Lord!

This week’s blog post is a special treat, as we get to hear from Scott Vanderform (the teacher at Lofty Mountain Family Camp last summer). Enjoy!

Can I share with you a saying I heard from roughly 2000 years ago that is still true today? It is a saying that has been passed down for generations as something that families need to know. It was passed down to me from my Father and Mother and I am determined to pass it on to my kids as well. Are you ready for it……

“tell to the coming generation

the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,

and the wonders that he has done.”

To be honest, this verse from Psalm 78 is not just a saying, it is an instruction coming directly from God himself to us and it is a reminder to all parents of what they are called to do by God. Do you regularly remind your Family of our good God almighty? (Check out Crowders song titled “Good God Almighty” to help get you started). Remember, we are talking about our one true God who has all might and power in His hand and has accomplished so many wonders that if we were paying attention we would constantly be in awe of Him. The point of this psalm is to instruct us to always remember the goodness of God to such a degree that it affects and informs the way our families live. Please hear me, this does not mean we must be doing two hour systematic theology bible studies every day as a family. What I think Asaph (the author of Psalm 78) is getting at when he writes these words is to encourage parents to make sure their families (parents and kids included) are regularly delighting in God.

This does not mean it looks the same for every family. For some it may be a walk in the woods and delighting in God’s creation and allowing it to point our hearts to God. For others it will be singing together. For others still it can be traveling to see the marvels of the world and allowing it to humble us to realize how small we really are in comparison to a God who spoke this world into existence. It could be a regular prayer time where you record your prayers as a family and watch as God answers those prayers in ways only He can, or it could be reading through a book of the bible and listening as God speaks powerfully through his word. There is so much adventure to be had for those who would seek after God with all their heart!

Our problem is we don’t practice regularly reminding ourselves of who our great God is and as such we turn from God to all sorts of idols without even seeing the gradual decline. Again Asaph says families need to regularly keep their eyes on God “so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God,” (Psalm 78:7)

As summer time approaches we tend to give ourselves a bit of an unintentional vacation from our regular disciplines with our Lord and I wanted to send this thought out as a challenge to all of you - parents and young people out there - to find new and creative ways to delight in God this summer instead of putting him to the side while you relax and “enjoy life”. We need to believe with all our hearts that He is our joy and diligently seek Him. In seeking Him you will find true LIFE (John 10:10).

Go chase after God as a family this summer!

Here is a picture of Scott and his family, taken last Fall.

Camp Crew Update on... SHIMMER!

In today’s blog post, we get to have a virtual chat with another one of our Camp Crew 2021 members - our very own Shimmer! I am sure you will be super encouraged after reading her answers to our interview questions - God is good, and he is faithful!

Hi Julia! I mean, Shimmer! What are you up to these days?

Currently, I am finishing up my first year at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

What’s the best thing about your school right now?

The best thing about school right now is the people. My friends and I like to study together by drawing things out on whiteboards and teaching each other the concepts. Not only is it more fun to study with other people but we feel like teachers and ensure there’s time for a Second Cup coffee break between teaching each other complicated topics. Another thing that I enjoy about school these days is my anatomy lab – we get to work hands-on with specimens that are fascinating. I am always blown away by how incredibly intricate God has created our bodies to be; saying that they’re pretty cool is an understatement.

What is the last great book you've read and why?

Hmmm… good question! I’ve not had much time to do leisure reading these days but I have been making my way through reading “Present Over Perfect” by Shauna Niequist. Emily “Heaps” Shields suggested I read it. It is about letting go of the striving, hustling-and-bustling, busyness/success-focused lifestyle to embracing God’s calling for our lives to be present, focused in the moment, and with our eyes continually fixed on Him. I love this book because it has challenged me, convicted my heart, and helped me to critique the areas of my life where I get consumed in a worldly cycle of busyness, rather than pursuing a Jesus-focused life. Preferably enjoyed with a chai tea (or any tea of your choosing) and a seat by a window.

What is your favorite meal these days?

Being a student on a meal plan, I have to say that my favourite meal is anything homecooked! Moving away from home has made me appreciate my parents’ cooking so much more – I especially love my dad’s homemade pasta (my mouth is salivating as I am writing this).

What is a good piece of advice you've received lately, and from whom?

“Enjoy the journey” has been a piece of advice that I have received from my dad for so long and he has recently reminded me of this advice again. As much as there are times that I will take this piece of advice with an eye roll and a “I get it, Dad, you’ve told me this before,” this piece of advice is filled with so much truth that I need to be continually reminded of. It is about staying present and joyful in the journey that God has set before us and is about appreciating the blessings even in the moments that seem tough. This year has had its ups and downs but reflecting back, I see that even in the tough moments, there were beautiful moments too. More than ever, God has used those moments to show me so much love through the people He put into my life. So passing on this piece of advice to you (yes, you) reading this, enjoy the journey, stay present, and enjoy the process of God guiding your life!

What is your favourite memory from Summer 2021 at Beacon last year?

Suzie, you can’t ask this kind of question – there are too many memories to choose from! This questions should not be allowed. ;) If I had to choose one, I’d say that my favourite memory was singing and dancing in the rain to the "Power Shuffle" during the Rolling Thunder family camp. It was a spontaneous moment that involved taking life’s lemons (i.e. the bad weather) and making some lemonade (i.e. DANCING!). It is a memory I will hold into for my whole life.

Dia Duiti!

In today’s blog post, we enjoy a guest entry by Patrick Garret, who was the teacher at Rolling Thunder Family Camp last summer. Enjoy!

“Dia duit!”

Or should I say 'hello'? The former is a typical Irish greeting which literally means “May God be with you”, and is a much better and more ancient greeting than the English “hello” — which according to Oxford may have come from an Old German word for hailing a ferryboat! (And I have it on good authority no true Irishmen anywhere at any time has actually said "top o' the moring ta ye!" or has requested a kiss simply because of their ethnicity despite what the shirt your dad wears may tell you.)

In writing this entry, I do not presume upon any truly Irish amongst the readership, but as you will soon realise, as it is written for March, this entry will nod to the patron saint of the Emerald Isle.

Before I continue, do let me introduce myself: As one partial to Northern Ireland particularly, I am a pastor to a Baptist congregation in Northern Ontario these past three years. I am a father of five, the husband of one, and have served congregations previously in Barrie, Oakville and Centre Wellington all in part-time to full -time ministry to youth and families.

I was asked to write an entry for the blog a few months back, and was given free reign as to what I would write. My history with Beacon is a relatively short but enriching experience: beginning with the first ever Family day event I was introduced to wonderful camp and its leadership. From there, my wife and eldest daughter attended a Mother/Daughter weekend, and my eldest son a boy's camp. I have been a leader at senior boys camp, attend a father/son weekend and as a family most recently we attended "Rolling Thunder" family camp in 2021 where I had opportunity to teach the adult chapel.

For the last several months since family camp, like everyone else, I've been growing through adjustments to life post-covid both in my community, congregation and family.

When I was asked to write this entry, and knew when it would come, I jumped at the chance to write about my namesake: St Patrick. From a young age, simply because of the name my parent's gave me, and being raised for a time in a tradition that honored saints, I have had personal enjoyment of growing to understand the saint. He has been the subject of a paper I wrote in seminary, a banner day to celebrate every year with family, and an excuse to listen to the Getty's just because! I have eaten more than my share of Lucky Charms, usually smell like Irish Spring, support both Hibernian & Celtic FC of the SPFL, and enjoy wearing green all year around. To boot, I was installed at my current congregation on St Patrick's Day in 2019! Yes, there were many allusions to this providence, closed the gathering with The Lorica, and shared a green cake to follow.

In all of this patrician devotion, however, one item in my study is of perennial value for me and others I will share. There is a sign in my study which came from a conference years ago, considering the life of the saint, and is titled "St Patrick: A Rule of Life". It encourages all of us believers to take a page from a life of one who pointed to Jesus as we seek to be ...

sacred instead of sensational

timeless instead of trendy

prophetic instead of popular

generous instead of entitled

meek instead of aggressive

quiet instead of attention-seeking

humbly prayerful instead of demanding

patient instead of prideful

inviting instead of isolating

understanding instead of judgmental

I close with a synopsis of Patrick's life taken from the short but excellent biography by Michael Haykin. “Patrick was a Trinitarian man, he had a zeal for mission, he was extremely biblical and had a great dependence on the Spirit. once we separate the man from the myth; the leprechaun and snake driving veneer, the drink-stained and nationalistic assumptions, the shamrocks and jigs, we are left with much for which we can thank God. This March 17th we can celebrate the life of a man who was taken from his home by kidnappers, made a slave but was called by the Lord while there, and later took the gospel to the very people who had kidnapped him. He planted churches, preached and wrote. His is a life of service to His God which should encourage us.”

Before I go, if you haven't already I recommend you try to learn a little more about the man and missionary by watching the short film the folks at Big Idea made a decade ago, or read the child-friendly biography by the Voice of the Martyrs -- and for theology geeks, you might enjoy the short video "St Patrick's Bad Analogy" at Lutheran Satire.

I pray you are blessed and thanking you for the opportunity,

(St) Patrick Garrett.

Here is Patrick with his lovely family (except for their oldest son, who was away at the time this photo was taken).