Sumatanga

There is more going on here than meets the eye. The whole is often much bigger than the sum of the apparent parts.

Sometimes five loaves and two scrawny fishes feed thousands of people.

Sometimes a whole lot more wine is poured from vats that held nothing but water and before that were just embarrassingly empty.

Sometimes a home is repaired in Appalachia that seemed beyond repair.

Sometimes a human heart is changed.

Sometimes strangers become friends.

Sometimes there is healing, when there was no hope.

Sometimes a simple song becomes worship.

Sometimes a prison gym becomes a beautiful sanctuary.

Sometimes we are better than we are.

Sometimes things just turn out way better than they should. It is as if there is something else going on that we can't see. It seems that there are unseen hands at work.

Sometimes I forget that. And it causes me a lot of unnecessary stress.

There are things going on that we can't see. We can't understand.

Camp Sumatanga is the thin place, more than any other, that reminds me, that re-acquaints me with the other side of the glass darkly. It is a comfortable place, a welcoming place, a place of rest and vision. The calm beauty and peace of Sumatanga is deceptive. Sometimes in the stillest of moments there is more going on than in the most chaotic moments elsewhere. It is a place where one is touched by unseen outstretched hands, where one hears the faint sounds of the spirit at work, where hearts are strangely warmed. Sometimes fuzzily, sometimes not. It is a place of expectation. For both sides of the glass. It is a place where a gentle breeze sometimes lifts the veil and for a brief moment one can catch a glimpse of heaven.

Maybe you've heard that Sumatanga is running out of money, that it may have to shut down at the end of the summer program.

The thing about Spiritual places like Sumatanga is that we take them for granted. It is easy to forget the importance of what is not always visible. But ask around. If you had time you would learn that tens of thousands of people in North Alabama and beyond have had profound experiences with the Holy right there in the heart of Greasy Cove. At Sumatanga. Among the chiggers and snakes and trees and rocks. Among the music and games and dances and crafts, It is notorious for providing the places to hear the call for your life.

Sumatanga has been a catalyst for spiritual growth in North Alabama for all ages. The Spirit is strong there.

I do not believe that strong Spirit will let Sumatanga close. The Spirit seems to enjoy it there.

Nor do I believe that those of us who have felt the touch of the unseen outstretched hand, heard the sounds of the Spirit at work, felt our heart strangely warmed or heard the call for our lives will let it close.

Sometimes we get it all wrong. We are talking of saving Sumatanga. But we are the ones that let it get to this desperate point. It is debatable who really needs saving here.

There's a lot more going on here than meets the eye.

Go to Sumatanga.org to make a donation.


.