Do You Have Everything You Need?

In my recent trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, known as the U.P. or the “Yoopie” to the locals, I wanted to test a new backpack that I had recently acquired as well as a new fire starter I purchased at Walmart.   Because I frequent the woodlands and wilderness areas, I have my gear readily available at a moments notice.  However, this trip was going to be somewhat of a challenge because my family was also going along.  So, I had to make sure that everyone had everything they needed for the outdoors.  It’s one thing to pack up for myself, as I am well aware of what I need to make camp, eat, start fires and deal with mosquitoes and black flies as well as inclement weather, it’s an entirely different and more complicated matter to pack for an additional six people.  While some of my family have been on trips with me before, not all of them are as interested in survival as I am.  So, often, my advice on what to do and what to bring along, has gone in one ear and out the other!

If you are going on a similar trip with your family or friends who are not as accustomed to the outdoors as you are, and you want them to have a good time, this is what I have discovered.  You need more than just gear and equipment! You must also have a servant mentality!  What do I mean by this?  Well, first, put other’s comfort ahead of your own.  Make sure that they have the best sleeping mat, tent or hammock setup, the most comfortable chair, the sleeping bag that will match their body size and style etc.  Do this even if it means that you will have to use older or inferior equipment.  Secondly, around camp, serve them by making sure that they have all their needs met as much as possible.  Get up early and get the fire going so they can be warmed as soon as they get up.  If necessary, get up in the middle of the night and keep the fire fed as well.  Thirdly, don’t expect too much from them.  You may be extremely comfortable in the wilderness but they probably aren’t.  Give advice gently and don’t reprimand them for their lack of knowledge as to what to do.  Remember, you are probably your family’s resident expert on the outdoors, and they will look up to you and respect you more if you show patience and kindness as you serve them without grumbling and complaining about all you are doing for them!

Spiritually speaking, there is much that can be learned from an experience like this.  The Lord wants us to serve others willingly and gladly.  When we put others first, we find much joy ourselves.  It is indeed more blessed to give than receive!  When someone looks at you with gratitude there is a personal blessing in it that only comes from being a servant.  Remember that even if no one notices or says thank you, you are still doing it to bless them and that God is watching as well.  Great will be your reward in Heaven!  Much of what we do for the Lord in the church as well as outside of the church goes unnoticed by others and it is easy to get jaded and burned out working with people.  This is why you should cherish every thanks, every card, every expression of gratitude whether great or small.  Keep them, and when you get weary in doing things for others, read them again and remind yourself that you are serving them as well as Christ.  So keep up the good work!  Get out and practice those skills and remember that when your chance comes to demonstrate all you have learned, don’t forget that not everyone is as skilled as you are, so be considerate!  In the words of one of our great outdoorsman Presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care”!

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PS.  Friend us at our Facebook Page – WayPoint Survival.  You can also check out my other websites where you can set up training for many of these skills at www.waypointsurvival.com and look at and order my custom knives at www.benderknifeworks.com.

James B