Christian Camp

Matthew Who?

- Gavin -

Gavin sat reading his Bible outside the cabin in the sun, with his back leant comfortably against the wall. Currently, he had been directed to Proverbs, which he always enjoyed reading because they leant him a comfort like no other. There was no way to describe Jesus' love for everyone other than it being like a warm hug, like somebody wrapping their arms around you and keeping you safe from every evil in the world. He smiled as he came to the end of Chapter 3 and lifted his head, allowing the breeze to whip against his face. He was so grateful that God had blessed him with this time away from his work, even if those three weeks had been reduced to two. This was a time for peace, to relax in God's word, release his worries and just follow God's path for him. He could do that.

"Hey, Gav!" A voice called out to him from nearby. Gavin lowered his Bible with a smirk, not registering the feminine softness to the words.

"Look, Matt - about earlier-"

"Do I look like a Matt?" The voice demanded dryly. Gavin was surprised to find that it was actually Ginny who was standing in front of him. For some reason, he found his throat had gone suddenly parched when he took her in, watching as she came and made herself comfortable beside him in the grass.

"Sorry, you don't mind do you? Maisie's having a loud pillow fight in our cabin and all want to do is read." She explained, gesturing to the thick, colourfully illustrated NIV Bible that was rested on her knee.

"Go ahead." Gavin said with a chuckle, taking in her words. He smiled apologetically at her. "You don't look like a Matt, by the way. It's just he's been chasing after me all day, what with what happened in Bible study."

"Oh!" Ginny grinned at him. "You mean the whole Ruth-Matthew situation? You did what was necessary, if you ask me."

"Exactly! The poor guy was never going to talk to her - I just helped him out."

"That's what friends are for." Ginny shrugged, sharing a good-natured smile with him before carefully opening her Bible to John. Gavin couldn't help but notice how the pages were full of post-it-notes and markers, instead of highlighted passages. Most of the Bibles he'd seen at Bible study had been annotated to within an inch of their lives - even his Bible had a bit of highlighter in it. "Don't you write in it?" He asked curiously. Ginny looked to him, startled, before catching sight of his own highlighted pages. She shook her head. "I don't want to ruin it. I've got an ESV version back home that I like to write in sometimes, but this is my most precious Bible. Why, do you always highlight yours?"

"Only if something really jumps out at me." Gavin admitted, leaning his head back against the wall. He looked up, soaking in the pink streaked expanse of blue sky, with its lazy clouds and occasional birds. Words from Genesis echoed in his mind: 'Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water'. He was silent for a few minutes, listening to the sweet bird call and feeling the kiss of the breeze against his skin, before he heard himself speak. "I only have two weeks here."

"Two weeks? Why?" Ginny was quick to answer. Gavin shook his head with a sigh, attempting to fight the slight deflation he felt inside him.

"I've got this shooting for a new TV series on the third week. I only got told yesterday."

"When your phone went off in church." Ginny remembered with a nod. "I'm sorry, Gav. Maybe it's a good thing though? Remember, it's all part of God's plan for you. Who knows, Matthew might have murdered you during that third week." She announced with a grin. Gavin couldn't help but smile at her words. She was right - he had to trust in God's plan for him. Here he was to worship his Lord and Saviour, and it didn't matter how many days he had left to do it. What mattered was that he *was* worshiping and spending time with God. There was nothing else.

"Well, when you put it like that..." He chuckled, smiling at her appreciatively. She grinned at him triumphantly, pushing her brown hair out of her face.

"Just enjoy yourself while you're here. I know I will." 

Hi, guys! I hope you're all enjoying reading Christian Camp so far! ❤

God bless! ❤