A TOUCH OF WONDER

            Have you ever experienced an event where you felt certain the hand of God was in it in some special way?  I wouldn't recommend that we always trust our feelings.  Our emotions can often be misleading.  For example, I felt sure the Browns would defeat the Steelers last Sunday.  Ouch!

Nevertheless, I had what you might call a touch of wonder this past week.  With a sudden change in the directorship of our summer youth retreat,

we found ourselves a bit overwhelmed - - with neither a campus, a director or a week confirmed for the summer of 2020.  Could these key items all be remedied in time to give our staff the heads-up needed to reserve vacation time for the week of camp?  Camp just doesn’t work without a staff!  I actually began to think that we might find our retreat INTERRUPTED for the first time since 1977 - - after 43 years of consecutive summer camps.

            But then God stepped in and made a way.  After a couple of days of prayer, Nic & Haley Wildman agreed to be our new directors (I’ve been mentoring him for thirty years).  Then we re-explored camp grounds that had previously proven to be unavailable (booked full), and lo and behold, two camps offered us prime dates - - both the week of July 26-31.  To not know who would lead us or where we could light or what doable dates might remain - - all at the end of November, the “chances” were highly unlikely for success.  Within one week all of our worries were vanquished.  You can call it what you will, but my heart witnessed the providence of God.  With this inexplicable turn of events, Romans 11:36 bathed my mind:

From Him and through Him and to Him are all things.  To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

                                                                                                                   Terry Siverd / Cortland Church Of Christ