Tag Archives: thankful

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The Tent Life: Why I Love Living in a Tent

Is it just me, or is there a social stigma associated with living in a tent?

Tent Life is a great way to live!

As I went to the polling place to vote in the Maine midterm elections last week, the poll workers asked me for my physical address.  When I told them that I live in a tent, they were visibly concerned for me.

They encouraged me to get in touch with the Emmaus Shelter in town.  As they saw it, no one who lives in a tent does so because things are going well.

My sister Nicole’s friends jokingly like to call the camping they do for vacation “playing homeless”. 

They would rather enjoy their vacation in a beautiful hotel. They just can’t understand why anyone would want to spend their days off from work in a tent!  And yet, many do!

As for me, even though I have a good paying job, I have several good reasons to be back in my tent again.

Great Reasons to Tent

  1. My “home” is paid off! (and cost me less than $100!)
  2. When you need to “cut the budget” to accomplish a big goal, getting rid of your rent payment is a great way to make it happen
  3. I have a safe place to camp, with a Christian Family, not far from where I work
  4. The weather’s good this time of year
  5. Others pay hundreds of dollars to come camp in the Mount Desert Island area for a week!  And I have the opportunity to do it all summer!
  6. No matter how my day goes at work, when I get home, I’m on vacation
  7. This is a great chance to strengthen my skills, to live anywhere in the world He may lead when the “season” changes
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Spoiled Turkey: How God brought me through a lonely holiday celebration

Holiday celebrations are meant to be spent with family and friends. The smell of turkey roasting in the oven, of pine from a real Christmas tree and home cooked goodies warm our hearts. We close our eyes and savor the realization: we are part of a family we love.

Don't spend your holidays alone. [Photo by Martin Vorel, libreshot.com]
Don’t spend your holidays alone

But what if this year, we spend the holiday all alone?

I’d like to share this testimony of what God did to meet me at Thanksgiving this year (2020).

I was feeling very sorry for myself, disappointed at what I would be missing – the smell of turkey and being home with family.

My last year’s Thanksgiving (2019) in Bar Harbor, Maine had been very difficult. That evening, I celebrated the day with strangers at the Trailhead Café next to the Criterion Theater. It was one of those community potlucks for people without family.

The food was good – no complaints there. Rather, what was so difficult was being a total stranger to everyone. I didn’t know how to start the conversation. I felt so alone.

Yet, even that day, God provided several consolations:

First, I was able to work on Thanksgiving Day at the Front Desk of the Bar Harbor Inn. This allowed me to keep my mind off the sadness of being away from family for most of the day.

Second, the General Manager brought a plate of food from his Thanksgiving Dinner for me to enjoy. It was so delicious! And the family atmosphere in which it was prepared still lingered on the plate.

This year (2020) was a little different. The hotel had to close a bit early due to a COVID-19 scare at the restaurant. Thankfully, I was able to work three more weeks in maintenance, through the holiday.

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