Dear beloved of God,

During the Abound program, we each spent two days alone in the woods. We call this a solo (or duo, because it is you spending alone time with God). The following letter is something I wrote during that time, briefly edited after we arrived home, and I thought it would bless you all.

Agape, Nick

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John 10:10

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

What is a more than abundant life? What does that life really look like? Many of us may get a picture of a wad of cash, a shiny car, the newest cell phone, a big screen TV.

Out on the mountain none of that matters. It doesn’t matter how much money you bring, because there’s nothing to spend it on. Your car means nothing when it takes hours to hike to the nearest roads. There is no cell phone service, or electricity for your TV.

You may get a picture of a nice suit, a fancy dinner and a glass of champagne. But what about a pair of jeans covered in dirt that you’ve been wearing for nearly a week, a sweat stained t-shirt, a beans and rice military MRE (meal, ready to eat), and a pouch of instant coffee?

How about having to dig a hole to use the bathroom? How about laying under a barely waterproof shelter of sticks and pine needles? What about cuts and bruises up and down your arms that sting when you try to apply sunscreen?

How about hiking four hours up a mountain, just to spend four more hours to get back to camp before sundown, but you have a song in your heart? How about sore feet, throbbing toes, and stiff legs that feel like they might give up on you at any minute, yet you have joy through the whole thing? How about sitting on a rock wearing four layers of clothes and still shivering in the wind, while laughing and fellowshipping with the people of God?

How about accomplishing something that you never thought you could do? Or seeing something about yourself that you’ve never seen before? Or literally putting your life in someone else’s hands, and seeing them take care of you? What about looking at each day as an adventure, pushing yourself to get out of your comfort zone and seeing your Father work? How about challenging your mind to think what the Word says and seeing the results?

Philippians 4:11-13 (Literal translation according to usage)

I do not talk about this because I am destitute; for I have learned by experience to be self-adequate in every situation. I know how to live in need and how to live in abundance. I have learned the secret of living in every conceivable situation: whether I am full or I am hungry, whether I have abundance or I am destitute. I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Christ who infuses me with inner strength.

I think the more than abundant life is a little different than most people would picture it.