Since Sunday we have been staying up at Hume Lake Christian Camps. I stay “staying” rather than “camping” because Bobby and Tyler and I have a very nice room in one of the lodges. It’s basically the same as a hotel with amenities like complimentary coffee, an iron and ironing board and housekeeping.

I’ve been to Hume Lake one other time before this, I think it’s been over twelve years ago now. My family used to go camping every summer to Bass Lake, but one year we came to Hume. All I really remember about that trip was floating on a pink air mattress out on the lake with my sisters and a dead fish floated by my foot. The only other thing I remember is getting out of the water!

There is chapel twice each day with a worship band and speaker. Our group usually has meals together and the kids have lots of free time. It seems like the students are having a great time so far and I sure am having a good time getting to know them and some of our leaders better.

I’ve been keeping up with Compass’ daily Bible reading, I’ve mentioned before. Right now we are reading Ecclesiastes. Not the most cheerful book to read, but no less necessary. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, gives us his thoughts on life. And as far as I’ve read–only the first few chapters–he uses the word “vanity” about twenty times to describe the toils and strivings of life.

When I kept seeing the word “vanity” I thought, “How depressing…” but then I got to a verse that helped me realize one of Solomon’s points:

Nothing that man can do throughout all of time can replace man’s need for a Savior, can take the place of God. What God does is the same from beginning to end because He is about bringing glory to the only one due glory—Himself.

Chapter 1 verse 9 says “…there is nothing new under the sun.” I was somewhat surprised to read this because there have been a lot of new things since Solomon’s day. This book was probably written in 931 BC there are numerous new things like the internet, cell phones, cars, books—only to list a few of millions of “new” things since Solomon’s lifetime. Does that mean Solomon didn’t know what he was talking about?

No, because his point is that there is nothing new to take over the works of the Lord. What He does is all that matters and there will never be new pleasure, new wisdom, or new gain apart from God. Apart from Him everything is vanity.

On the trip up here it was just me and little Tyler in the car. My CD player is broken so I brought my iPod which wouldn’t work with the car adapter for some reason. Instead of listening to music I decided to memorize a verse instead. One of the more recent ones I had written in my 3×5 card spiral was —

‘“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom,
let not the mighty man boast in his might,
let not the rich man glory in his riches,
But let him who glories, glory in this—
That he understands and knows Me,
In these I delight,’ says the Lord.”
Jeremiah 9:23-24

One pursuit in our lives that would not be vanity is to understand and know God. As I was memorizing it I thought, “Who can understand God?” I’m not sure I know the answer to that question. I don’t know if our tiny human minds can ever wrap around the Creator. But still, the Lord wants us to pursue knowing Him.