This particular leg of our journey led us to Colter Bay, Wyoming in the heart of the Grand Tetons.  As we rounded each bend in the road, the mountain range became more majestic and the anticipation accelerated.

We decided to enter the adventure of staying in a Tent Cabin.  A Tent Cabin?  What the heck is that?  Can a structure be both a tent and a cabin?  Well, yes!  Here it is…

My fears had been my getting cold and trekking across the terrain to find a bathroom in the middle of the night.  I settled into my sleeping bag atop a unique vinyl covered cot which hung from the wall by chains.  I wore five layers of clothes to keep warm in 38 degrees, which was a good thing at first.  Scooting into the long narrow sleeping bag was a bit tricky.  The small wood burning stove had a large flue that was supposed to take smoke out of the room.  I was personally happy that the fire went out quickly as the smoke seemed to find its way through my tightly closed eyelids.

I went to sleep snuggled like a bug in a rug.  It was just a couple of hours later that I awakened to realize my greatest challenge in this adventure was not at all what I had anticipated.  It was the sleeping bag!  My 5’11” frame complete with long arms and legs is just not cut out for a sleeping bag.  Evidently I like to twist and turn a bit in my sleep.  After unzipping  a jacket, fleece, and vest in an attempt to gain some space, I was still swathed in the sleeping bag.  I was hot, but I could barely move.  Now I felt trapped.  I managed to take each of my three layers of socks off with the toes of my other foot.  I flung my gloves across the room.  I was in a wrestling match!  The sleeping bag became an awakening bag.

As the long hours of the night slowly ticked away, there were three images which came to my mind.  I pondered each one in an attempt to listen to what God might be saying to me.  After all, I was in the wilderness!  It’s a place where God often comes to speak.  At this point I was wrapped up in a listening mode, like it or not.

The first image was a papoose.  While in Santa Fe, New Mexico, I had seen beautiful hand made cradles for babies which were strapped to a mother’s back.  They were truly a work of artistic intricacy including tiny hand sewn glass beads. As I pondered the papoose, the words came, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10).  With an emphasis on “Be still” I felt God was saying, “Relax.  Just let me hold you awhile.”

The next image was a cocoon.  In God’s perfect plan, God has made everything beautiful in its time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  The timing of the preparatory confinement of the cocoon allows for the fulfillment of a beautiful butterfly.  Any interruption of this incubation will harm the butterfly.  Patience is the word inside the cocoon.  Await the awakening!  So, Lord, are you preparing me for something as I lie prostrate in this cocoon?  

Finally I heard the words of Jesus, “Lazarus, come out!”.  His friend had died and Jesus was calling him to life again.  He then invited others gathered around saying, “Unbind him and let him go.” (John 11:43-44).  They joyfully removed his grave clothes. What freedom Lazarus must have felt!  I imagined it.  I felt it while lying in the sleeping bag.

What are you saying to me Lord in this sleeping bag or non-sleeping bag experience?  The images remain a wonder.  They seem to stay with me as the memory of the long night in the wilderness becomes a gift.

nk

Pondering…

Are there any sleeping bag memories for you?

Has God spoken in the stillness of the night?