Many years ago, my wife, Judy, adopted Marie Kondō’s philosophy of minimalist living.
This meant two things for our whole family: (1) that we would limit our possessions to things we needed, and (2) that we would only keep things that “spark joy.” As we progressed through the decluttering process, my closet suffered the greatest impact. I owned one pair of jeans, three pairs of dress pants and shirts, and one manual labor outfit. Because some of my ties were given as gifts that sparked joy, Judy allowed me to keep more than one. The same could not be said about my suits—all but one were donated.
I admit that limiting the number of articles of clothing made my life easier each morning as I got ready for work. As the intensity of the Spark Joy Revolution waned, I grew the number of outfits in my closet, but never the number of suits. When I recently got the call to take on the responsibilities of conference secretary, I knew that an update to my wardrobe was necessary. The Christmas holidays presented a good opportunity to get some sharp suits at a lower price.
During our holiday in California, I began my hunt for suits by shopping at major stores, dismayed to discover that the sale prices of these items were thousands of dollars beyond my budget! You can imagine how happy I was when Pastor Moise Ratsara called to inform me that his father-in-law (and our good family friend) wanted to donate several of his nicest suits to my cause. As I tried on each piece, I was reminded that my upgraded look was not a result of my own wealth, but the gift of another person. The compliments came immediately. Apparently, people paid attention to my limited attire (or my poor sense of style). Now, because I have purchased only one of the suits I currently own, I am reminded—almost daily—of the investment that others have made in me.
Why Remember?
Reminders are important. God values our need to remember so much that He dedicated an entire commandment to that end. When we remember the Sabbath, our minds also recall our high calling to reflect the image of God, to remember where we come from, to remember the process of our redemption, and to rest in the merits of Jesus, our Savior. This is one of the primary purposes of holy days in the Bible—to remember God: His leading, provision, power, wisdom, and love.
When we go to church each Sabbath, we remember who God is, who we are, and who our neighbors are. When we pray each morning and evening during family worship, we remember our dependence on God. When we study God’s word each day, we remember that there is more to life than just living. And now, when I get dressed each morning, I remember that I need a robe of righteousness to cover me that is not my own.
Camp meeting is a yearly reminder. It is a midway point in the year that reminds us of our need for spiritual food. Listening to the powerful sermons or insightful workshops might revive in us a deeper desire to study God’s word. For some, camp meeting is a place where we encounter people with whom we have estranged relationships. In these cases, it is a reminder of our need to reconcile.
For parents who bring their children and watch as they enjoy the programming and activities of the divisions, camp meeting reminds us that we might need to invest in our kids’ spiritual care or in quality family time. Long lunch lines, bad weather, and other inconveniences might serve as reminders that we need more patience. In short, camp meeting each year is a reminder to me of my need to grow into the likeness of my Maker.
This year, our theme reminds us of both the responsibility to proclaim God’s message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Savior to the whole world and the power promised to attend us in this proclamation. It is in remembering our identity and our calling that we find confidence in our message and in our mission. Keeping in mind our church’s prophetic role in earth’s history, as well as the power of the everlasting gospel to transform lives, gives us the loud voice that we need to share with a world in need the gift of salvation found in Christ.
I’m looking forward to seeing you there.
Israel Ramos is the Executive Secretary for the Michigan Conference.