Article October 21, 2002 Issue

Tuned in to STRENGTH from GOD

By Ginny Luedeman

During my second week on staff at a wilderness camp on British Columbia's Bowen Island, we embarked on a four-day "out trip" into the Stein Valley. I could barely lift my pack, with its four days' worth of supplies, and I was embarrassed that the other staff and campers had to carry not only their own personal items but also the food and camping supplies for 27 people. My additional load? Some tissue. And the salt and pepper.

Wilderness camp was a first for some of us, including me. Its main purpose was to provide the campers with opportunities to learn more about their spiritual natures—that all the good qualities of God were theirs to enjoy. Each day we saw more clearly that what really identified us were things such as peace, courage, intelligence. As a Christian healer, I had a lot of experience praying for people, so I was on the staff in case anyone might have a need for prayer or spiritual counseling.

Back to the hike. Soon, I found I was praying hard—for myself! I was hoping I wouldn't have to be carried out on a stretcher. When we started up "The Devil's Staircase"—a rugged, steep, rocky slope high above a river—I really prayed. I desperately wanted to drop my baggage of weakness and feel more of the strength that I knew God gives to each of us.

About the author

Ginny Luedeman is a Christian Science practitioner. She lives in Salem, Oregon, with her husband, Craig, and two of their six children. They enjoy outdoor adventures.

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