Camping with Jesus: Lessons from a Failed Comfort-Seeker

Living from the Inside Out: Why I Might Write a Book (Because I Clearly Need It)

Let’s be honest: I need this book as much as anyone. Maybe more. Living from the inside out—by faith, by Christ’s wisdom, by something other than my own chaotic thoughts—is hard. Especially in a world that feels perpetually upside down. And yet, as the saying goes, we teach best what we most need to learn. So, here I am, contemplating writing a book. Because apparently, I’m a glutton for both punishment and growth.

The Struggle Is Real (and So Are My Camping Failures)

For years, I’ve wrestled with Jesus’ words, especially in the Sermon on the Mount. Blessed are the poor in spirit? Love your enemies? Turn the other cheek? These teachings are confusing, unsettling, and downright countercultural. They challenge everything the world tells us about success, security, and self-preservation. And yet, deep down, I know they hold the key to real life.

The world tells one story; Jesus tells another. Which one will we believe? And more importantly, how do we actually live it?

Take camping, for example. I once tried to make the wilderness feel like home. I brought an inflatable mattress, cozy blankets, fine meals, and even set the picnic table like I was hosting a dinner party. Nature, however, was unimpressed. Ash from the fire covered everything, mosquitoes laughed at my citronella candles, and by the time we packed up, I was exhausted.

The next morning, while serving food to a man living in a tent by the river, I casually mentioned that I always needed a vacation after camping. He looked at me, his eyes filled with a depth I couldn’t yet comprehend, and said quietly,

> “You have no idea what camping is.”

Ouch.

That moment lodged itself in my heart. What I experienced as a weekend of controlled discomfort was his daily reality. It was a stark reminder that Jesus’ way isn’t about making life more comfortable—it’s about learning to see as He sees, to live with open hands, and to trust that the treasures we build in heaven matter far more than the ones we accumulate on earth.

> Kierkegaard once described the struggle of life as the difference between navigating by the shifting waves or by the fixed stars. The waves are the ever-changing tides of culture—success, self-preservation, and security. The stars represent the eternal—the truth of Christ’s words, steady and unmoving. The question is, which one do we trust to guide us?

Why I Might Write a Book (Spoiler: It’s Not Because I Have It All Figured Out)

Here’s the thing: I don’t yet know exactly what it means to fully seek first the Kingdom. But I do know this: I want to be in a place where, if ever called to leave everything behind, my heart would say yes without hesitation.

And that’s why I’m contemplating writing a book. Not because I’ve mastered this whole “living from the inside out” thing, but because I’m in the trenches with you. I’m learning, failing, and occasionally succeeding. And maybe—just maybe—my journey can help you on yours.

What’s Coming (If I Actually Write This Thing)

If I do write this book, here’s what you can expect:

✅ Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Chaos – We’ll dive into the words of Jesus, Kierkegaard’s stars-and-waves metaphor, and other timeless truths that remind us to navigate by the eternal, not the ever-changing waves of culture.

✅ Real Stories, Real Struggles – From camping fails to serving the homeless, I’ll share the moments that have reshaped my understanding of what it means to live differently.

✅ Practical Tools for an Upside-Down World – Think Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits meets the Sermon on the Mount. Because sometimes, we need practical handles to apply eternal truths.

Join Me on This Journey (Please, I Need the Company)

This isn’t just about reading—it’s about wrestling, practicing, and living out Jesus’ words. It’s about seeing differently, valuing differently, and trusting that His way is the best, even when it doesn’t make sense.

So, consider this your invitation. Not to read a book (though that might come later), but to join me as a fellow traveler. Because the call to live differently? It’s not just for the spiritual elite. It’s for all of us.

And who knows? Maybe together, we’ll figure out how to navigate by the stars instead of the waves.

Would a book like this interest you? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!