The Case for Family Field Trips
Spring is close at hand! Though the winter was mild, we find ourselves yearning to shake the bonds of our winter domiciles and romp free in a sun-bathed world of lush vegetation and balmy temperatures. The heavens locked in wintry gray are already giving way to azure skies arrayed with billowing clouds of cottony-white. This means that prime exploration season is just around the corner!
I now refer to excursions into nature as “field trips.” Years ago I referred to them as “family vacation.” But with three teens and a tween in our home, I’ve learned the importance of truth in advertising. The kids protested that dad’s definition of “vacation” left scant room for lazy repose and frivolous entertainment. Our so-called “vacations” were chock-full of things like forced marches, challenging sleeping conditions, and unmitigated exposure to fresh air and rugged earth. Guilty as charged! So I changed the nomenclature to “field trips,” which I contend offer substantial benefits. Tremendous rewards accrue to those willing to leave behind the hustle and bustle of everyday life and explore the wild wonders of nature.
God’s glory
First, exploring nature is a singular means of witnessing the glory of the God who created heaven and earth. From pole to pole “the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (ESV, Psalm 19:1). Nature is a canvas on which God reveals His splendor and power (Rom. 1:19-20). To explore nature is to cavort in the cathedral of God’s creative artistry and design: climbing mountains and basking in the vistas below; hiking rugged trails under the leafy boughs of towering trees; exploring waterfalls that tumble with violent force into murky basins; frolicking in the ocean’s surf to the symphonic strains of crashing waves and screeching gulls; watching the sun set across a placid lake as loons echo their haunting cry; trudging upland against the flow of a gurgling creek; exploring the dank, earthy splendors of a cave; star gazing in a remote field unspoiled by the glow of city lights; being mesmerized by the dancing flame of a cracking campfire as the wind stirs the chords of pine needles overhead. Such explorations into nature enrich and stabilize the soul, particularly when such wonders are received as a gift from nature’s Artificer (Gen. 1:31).
Adventure
A second reason to explore nature is for the pure adventure of it all—for the enriching opportunity to unloose ourselves for a time from the largely predictable world of our ordered lives. Getting out into nature is not necessarily safe or calculable, and that elevated level of risk heightens the experience. As you venture down a trail, river, or uncharted road, you do not know precisely where it will lead or what wonders you may discover along the way. As you camp for the night, you cannot predict the weather or how critters might respond to your presence in their living room.
As a society we specialize in minimizing risk and maximizing assured outcomes. Field trips permit us an honorable escape from controlled environments and routine. Venturing into the wilderness provides experience in flexing to meet unpredictable challenges and yields the unparalleled joy of discovering unanticipated wonders. Such opportunities are incalculably profitable for the soul.
Unplugging
A third reason to explore nature is that it provides the opportunity to unplug from technology. When our family takes a field trip we go off the grid. No cell phones. No texting. No laptops. No recorded music. No video games. Unplugging from such technologies serves to open the eyes to nature’s beauty and unplug the ears to nature’s song. Periods of freedom from the siren cry of mesmerizing technologies permits the soul opportunity to rejuvenate. It allows the sage wisdom of nature’s whispered sermons to be heard and heeded.
Not to fear, mom and dad bring cell phones for medical emergencies, coordinating purposes, and roadside assistance. But we keep our phones off until necessary and make it a point to journey outside the range of service on occasion. Some people see ventures beyond cell phone service as irresponsible. Some people need to learn to live a little! Many wonders of nature are accessible only to those willing to abandon their tether to communicational technologies. Younger generations in particular need to be taught that life exists beyond the reach of cell towers and that it is worth the effort to purposefully go there on occasion.
Life’s journey
Fourth, field trips designed to venture into the wonders of nature serve as a prophecy of life’s ultimate journey. One day each of us will go off the earth-grid and enter the presence of our Creator. Life is preparation for that ultimate journey, and Jesus Christ the only guide to the eternal kingdom—to the world in which wonders beyond imagination await those who have been freed from the penalty of sin by His saving grace (John 14:1-6, Heb. 9:27-28, Rev. 21:1-22:5). Exploring nature reminds me that I am a pilgrim in search of another world.
As I continue discovering natural wonders in this world, I am reminded of the splendors that will abound on a renewed planet redeemed from its bondage to corruption (Rom. 8:20-22). If this fallen world yields such pleasures, imagine what joys a renewed earth will yield! And so I continue to explore this fallen globe with childlike curiosity, driven by a keen anticipation of wonders yet to come.
Pastor Dan Miller Bio
Dan Miller has served as the Senior Pastor of Eden Baptist Church since 1989. He graduated from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in 1984 and his graduate degrees include the MA in history from Minnesota State University, MDiv and ThM from Central Baptist Theological Seminary and DMin from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Dan is married to Beth and the Lord has blessed them with four children: Ethan, Levi, Reed and Whitney.
- 12 views
Our so-called “vacations” were chock-full of things like forced marches, challenging sleeping conditions, and unmitigated exposure to fresh air and rugged earth.Must be a guy thing. When my husband starts talking about how fun it would be spend a few days camping- building a shelter, sleeping on the ground, hunting in the woods for grub, cook over a campfire… basically the whole Survivorman ordeal- let’s just say I’d rather stick a fork in my eye.
However, we also enjoy nature walks as a family. It’s nice to do something that promotes togetherness and conversation in a way that few ‘family activities’ can- mostly because the activity itself is often the focus of attention. I also like being ‘unplugged’, but we all use the cameras on our cell phones to capture those ‘Kodak’ moments. :D
Growing up—a bit after my wife and I were married—loved it.
Dan’s got me wanting to dust off the tent and give it a try again.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
And let’s not forget- I grew up without indoor plumbing (and several other indoor niceties) - there is very little that is adventurous or romantic about years of having to walk a city block to use the facilities regardless of the weather or time of day. Fine when you’re young and used to it. But these old creaky bones appreciate a mattress and box spring.
[Susan R]Which is why when we camp now we use tall air mattresses .. and a 2 room tent w/a porta potty.. :O
And let’s not forget- I grew up without indoor plumbing (and several other indoor niceties) - there is very little that is adventurous or romantic about years of having to walk a city block to use the facilities regardless of the weather or time of day. Fine when you’re young and used to it. But these old creaky bones appreciate a mattress and box spring.
It may not exactly be “wilderness” .. but it’s a good mix.. I do love being outdoors .. I also think we can enjoy God’s handiwork during the DAY - and enjoy a comfy bug free air conditioned motel room or cabin at night!
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My wife like to camp but her parents do not. In fact, when she was growing up and they would go on family vacations with other families, her parents would rent a hotel for them to sleep in while the other families slept outside in their tents at the camp site. Crazy!
I’ve been to one all the way through .. and we took our pop up because the building wasn’t there yet - and I could plug it in and have power and run my little heater..
It’s kind of turned into an all guy thing .. though once in a while some of the “girls” - college age set a tent .. (Our church is over run with “boys” of all ages.. )
They go for Fri/Sat night. Saturday night is usually a big campfire with singing/some mores.. LOTS of folks come for the campfire and the hearty camp. We have our Sunday morning service down in the meadow … after early early breakfast cooked outdoors .. It’s sort of a float in/out campout .. people participating in what they want to ..
I may try sticking it out next weekend.. or at least stay for one night with hubby and son. (As long as I can have my mattress!)
We live so close - it’s easy to go for the “fun” stuff - and go home for the not so fun..
So the experience of adventure Dan writes about in the OP was a huge part of it.
We took the canoes out in the middle of one lake and flipped them all just to see if we could get back in them (this is easy in a shallow river but when the water is a few dozen feet deep… well, getting a canoe upright and mostly empty and then getting back into it again—these are art forms.
I’ll quibble with Dan about one thing though: for me, “daily life” has plenty of unpredictable and unforeseen events. The difference is that on a “field trip,” they are of a far, far different kind.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
I miss living in the country. The hill next to our house (which was the highest point in Cabell County) was a great place to sit and be able to see for miles. Tromping through the woods with my dog, pretending to be attacked by everything from aliens to dinosaurs, wading in the creek, running into everything from groundhogs to wildcats, eating blackberries and raspberries right off the vines… it just doesn’t get any better than that.
Camping gives you a taste of what it’s like every day for a hillbilly. :D
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