"I love the sound the outside makes." Leah, age 6.

I love kids and their view on life.  There's something so simple and innocent in their perspective that my 'grown-up', realistic heart recognizes and longs for.

I just got back from a camping trip with all of my family.  It was miserably cold and windy, but we were all there and it wouldn't have mattered what we were doing or the conditions, you would have been hard pressed to wipe the smile off my face.

Saturday night Leah, my 6 year old niece, wanted to sleep in my tent with me.  We got everything set up and situated and we fell asleep as she was telling me how this was her first time sleeping outside.  She talked about how excited she was that she was "big enough" now to sleep in a tent and that her first experience would be with me.  She went on to explain to me that she might snuggle with me cause sometimes she just likes to snuggle.  I fell asleep with a full heart.  I love making memories.

Not an hour into the night the winds picked up.  OK, that's an understatement.  I woke up feeling pretty certain there was a tornado outside.  The outer flap was whipping around in the wind smacking the sides of the tent.  The trees around us were being blown onto the tent, and the wind was shaking us around. 

I looked over at Leah who was sound asleep and I started getting nervous.  What if she wakes up and is freaked out? What if our tent blows over on her first night in a tent? She'll be scarred for life!  (And since I was the one who set up the tent and never really knew for sure if I put it together correctly, this was a strong possibility. :) )  Not to mention it was cold and I was sure this wind blowing in wasn't helping matters. 

A really strong gust came through and the tent jumped around and the noise of the wind and trees hitting our tent was enough to wake up Leah.

"Aunt Jess?" 
"Ya, baby?  You OK?"
She smiled as if she'd never been more content in her life as she snuggled up onto my arm.  "Ya.  I'm really happy I get to sleep outside with you.  I love the sounds the outside makes." 

Warmed me right up!  She loves the sounds the outside makes.  Girl after her Aunt Jess' heart.  I loved that.  I snuggled her in tighter and we talked more about how God made all the sounds, and we wondered aloud at what they all could be.  We talked about how crickets make their sounds.  She fell asleep again completely oblivious to the craziness that was going on outside, all the while dissipating the anxiety that had settled into my heart. 

I laid there thinking about the difference between her response to the storm and mine.  The storm around me brought out my protective instincts.  I wanted her to be safe physically, and I also wanted her to not fear nature and have a negative experience about tent camping.  I thought about my sister and her family sleeping in their tent and their two very young children and I worried about them being warm enough and being scared.  (Ironically, their tent did blow in, but that's a story for another time. :))  Leah didn't know that she should be scared.  She simply knew that she was sleeping next to her Aunt and she knew that she was safe with me.  She just snuggled in tighter and knew I would hold her and the storm could do what it would.

 I began to think about my faith.  And how easy it is for me to give lip service to trusting God.  Of course I trust Him.  I know He's in control.  I know His ways are best.  Of course I trust Him.  Well that sounds good, but when the winds start blowing and my "house" is being shaken and it's dark and  the noise is getting louder and more intense, what is my instinctive response?  Do I smile contently knowing that no storm rages unless God allows it to?  Do I snuggle into His arms and tell Him how happy I am that I'm with Him at that moment?  Do I choose to hear the awesome noises the "outside" makes over the howling winds?  Do I praise Him for the ways He's intricately fashioned the universe and the ways that He fashioned my heart to enjoy His creation?  Or do I freak out?  Take matters into my own hands.  Start scheming an escape plan.  Figure out a way to be everyone's saviour? 

I learned a lot that night in the middle of the storm.  And I'm thankful for the lessons to be learned from a 6 year old.

My propensity for honesty compels me to tell you the rest of the story.  About 3 hours after the above story  took place, the winds got even crazier, and Leah woke up cold and scared.  She ended up deciding to finish the night out in her parent's camper.   And while initially it seems as if the rest of the story negates the beginning of the story, it really only confirms the reality of living in a broken world with a fallen nature.  It reminds me that there are many times when I am snuggled up in His  arms and I'm at complete peace resting in His promises and His truth.  In a moment's time I can flip the switch and start doing, rather than being.  It's a good reminder to me that it's a daily choice to walk with Him.  To talk with Him constantly and choose to trust Him even when my earthly senses tell me there's a storm raging.  Take a minute today to listen to the sounds the outside makes.  Or whatever it is that speaks to and refreshes your soul.  The storms will come, but our God is a shield about us. A refuge. A firm and unshifting foundation for our soul.