Pittsburg, NH

Waaaaaay up north, at the very top of the state of New Hampshire, bordering Canada, is the town of Pittsburg. It's almost 300 square miles, with a population under 1,000. Most of what you see is mountains, trees and lakes. God's Country, some people call it. The closest movie theater is an hour and 15 minutes away. You shop at Young's store or the Trading Post. Tourism is beginning to take over, as people flock to Pittsburg for fishing in the summer and snowmobiling in the winter. But the Pittsburg experience is much different for me.

My father's family owns a small cabin on Back Lake and I have spent time there almost every summer of my life. We call it "Kamp Komfort". It is small & rustic with exposed 2x4's, homemade furniture, and hardly any modern comforts. We have to boil water on the stove and then fill a watering can with the hot water to hang in the shower. We have an outhouse. I remember as a child pumping the water out of the well into a bucket. I am often woken in the middle of the night to the sounds of the mouse trap snapping and falling to the ground. The black flies, mosquitoes, and deer flies leave you covered in welts...sounds like fun?

Ahhh, yes. And I can't wait to head up there for a few days this summer. The sunrise every morning and sunset every night over the lake are truly a sight. "Jesus painted a beautiful sky," we say. The smells and sounds of the woods and water are fresh and earthy. With all that nature and very little man, the night sky is huge and brilliant. We feed ducks and watch the babies grow. We walk along the "tricky path" and try not to stumble over the roots. We spend hours in the small boat waiting for the fish to bite. Sometimes coming back with nothing, other times with a stringer full of fish. We catch trout and bass, clean them in the woods, and have them for dinner. Evenings are filled with card games. It's said that on rainy afternoons, the mattresses curl, and you just have to lay on them to hold them down. We've paddled in the paddle boat, kayaked, and sailed in small sailboats. We drive along route 3 in the evening looking for moose. We pick bouquets of wildflowers and nap in the hammock.

Life slows down and God's creation is amplified.

I can't wait.

Needs

I gave blood recently and was struck with the realization as to how dependent humans are on each other for this necessity of life. Scientists can't manufacture artificial blood. Hospitals don't stock pigs blood. Humans are dependent on the selfless acts of others who endure a small pain and inconvenience.

I enjoyed thinking about my gift to someone. My blood could help save a life. Yeah, the needle pinches and burns, but only for a minute. Yes, I had to answer what seemed like 95 questions. Yes, it took about an hour of my time. And yes, they wouldn't let me leave until I consumed super-sugary juice and nutter butter cookies. But if that's all the complaints I've got...it's so worth it. I've known many people who say, "oh, I'll never give blood again, because the one time I did, I got dizzy and nauseous." Seriously. That's all you got?? My husband doesn't donate blood because he had leukemia as a child. He would love to, but can't.

Acts 4:34 says: "There were no needy persons among them." Wouldn't it be great to be able to say, there are no needs, all needs are met. Everywhere we look we see needs. Blood, food, friendship, kind words, a helping hand. We are the answer to those needs. Yes, sometimes, it's not easy and may cause some personal discomfort or inconvenience. But Jesus met our greatest need for a savior, enduring the most extreme pain and discomfort. God did not create us to be selfish, absorbed, hard-shelled individuals only concerned for ourselves and those in out little bubble. Our lives are to be richly intertwined with one another, reflecting and acting like Christ.

I'm not telling everyone to give blood. I know there are circumstances that prevent donation. But I am encouraging you to commit selfless acts that aid, comfort, and assist others. Step outside your comfort zone once in a while...you may be pleasantly surprised by what God can use you for.