Wow, it was quiet! Five days backpacking in the San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado with no Internet, no cell service, no news and no other folks on the trail. It was just dads and sons enjoying God’s creation, fellowship and man-to-man discussion each evening. We covered over 30 miles and went from 8300’ elevation to 12,000’ at the Continental Divide. It was a wonderful week.

Then it was time to return home with the challenge to be different as a result of the experience. Dads and sons typically have more one-on-one time across this week of backpacking than they have ever had together. As a result, tough questions get asked, good discussion happens and relationships move to a new level. To find a similar quiet upon return from the mountains to the day-to-day routine will take a new level of intentionality by dad and son.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. – Psalms 46:10-11. It may be a local call to God in Texas but you just feel closer to Him in the mountains. It is natural to be still and know that He is God when you are in the middle of His creation. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”- Romans 1:20. Exalted indeed! Is it any wonder that the devil wants everyone BUSY - his goal is distraction by keeping families busy throughout the week and taking them different directions to various activities across the weekend. It takes intentionality to be still, to find quiet time and nurture new levels of relationship in family and with the Father.

Many homes and families have experienced a forced kind of quiet these past number of months. The noise of busy-ness, kids’ sports and other extra-curricular activities came to a screeching halt courtesy of a new strain of coronavirus. Now, as all begin the slow process of returning to a more normal schedule, the challenge is to be different as a result of the experience. Families will be strengthened as dads establish a new level of intentionality to be still, to find or create the quiet time needed to nurture new levels of relationship in the home and with the Father.

Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for Your word and for Your creation. Thank You for the quiet time that has helped me understand how much I have emphasized being successful to my kids. Success is not a bad thing unless relationships get compromised on the journey – marriages, family and business relationships are too often collateral damage on the road to perceived success. I want to change the emphasis by exemplifying healthy relationship through the marriage and family You have blessed me with. Help me be more intentional in creating quiet time needed to nurture new levels of relationship in the home and with You Father. Strengthen me to be still when the world says be BUSY, and know that You are God. That is the dad You call me to be, and the dad the next generation needs. Amen.

A faithful father is intentional in creating quiet time to nurture new levels of relationship.