Peter was going on his first camping trip. He was thirty years old. His mother told him, “Don’t go! Something terrible will happen!” (Maybe that’s why he hadn’t gone during his younger years.)
Arriving at Tonto National Forest, Arizona, he thought he was in a wildlife painting. His wife had to explain how to set up the tent as she sat nearby holding their infant son. They enjoyed a walk around the area before nestling into the tent for the night, their son between them.
Around midnight, Peter wasjoltedtohisknees. A black bear had ripped Peter’s arm down to the bone and was trying to enter. His infant son began screaming. Then the bear focused on the child. Peter quickly jumped between the bear and his infant son. He yelled to his wife togetaway. Theyoung woman found an opening and hurried to the wood line.
Peter pushed past the bear and walked the short distance tohiscar. Hiscriesforhelp echoed through the forest. The beast was pounding its huge paws toward him.
Peter then heard a loud ‘thud’ on the ground nearby. Another ‘thud’ followed. His wife was throwing rocks at the bear. The bear turned around and growled loudly in her direction. Suddenly, shots rang out. The bear ran into the forest, ending the terror.
A neighboring camper had heard the commotion and came running with his pistol. Another nearby camper was an EMT. He’d come fully equipped for an extreme emergency. After stabilizing Peter, he was med-flighted to a Phoenix hospital, where he lay recovering for two weeks.
No one can know the mind of a wild bear.
But can you know the mind of God?
In 2 Peter 3:9, the writer says, ”The Lord is not slow to keep His promise…No, He is patient with you. He wants everyone to find room for a change in their hearts. He doesn’t want anyone to be lost.“ God wants you to know that He is kind and that His kindness towards you can lead you to repent (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Are you aware of God’s love? In fact,“God IS love” (1 John 4). His heart is filled with love for you (Romans 5:8). Seek to know Him and to follow Him while you have an opportunity!
“Then, you and all of the holy people will be able to completely understand the meaning of Christ’s love– how wide it is, how long it is, how high it is, and how deep it is. Even though it goes beyond knowing, you will know it! Then you will be filled with the totality of God” (Ephesians 3:18-19).