OUR LATEST ADDITION

THE BERRY PATCH CABIN

This cute little one bedroom, one bath cabin has a kitchenette and small living room. It slid snuggly into a clearing that seemed to be just made for it.   The spot was formerly my children's very favorite berry patch, but the drought had killed all of the bushes. The berry patch is still full of special memories and provided the perfect site for the cabin. Surrounded by oak, hickory and dogwood trees, it is nestled deep in the woods on the right side of the road, just before the volley ball/game field.  Almost invisible.

Right now it's just a shell, but eventually, as funds become available, electricity, water. a septic system and maybe even internet will be added.  The Berry Patch Cabin will make it much easier for us to take care of our guests far into the future by allowing us to stay out of the way, but on site and even more readily available while our guests are here.

Now, the REST OF THE STORY:   As many of you know, we have been trying to raise over $150,000 for a proper caretaker's house for several years now.  We'd made some progress, but still had a long, long way to go.  On a recent trip to Austin I passed some small hunting, fishing cabins for sale like the one in the photo and it "occurred" to me that that was all we really needed.  We didn't need a full on house, just a place to stay on the weekends when we had guests at the camp.  A couple of weeks later I mentioned my thoughts to Mike Stone, our camp manager.  Excitedly, he told me that a friend of his just "happened" to be selling a cabin just like I had seen for half the price of a new one.  The rest is history.  God's hand is all over this!  God is so-o great.  He truly is at work all around us, all the time!  Thanks be to God for providing us with the Berry Patch Cabin!

Donations to help complete the Berry Patch Cabin can be sent to the Cross Roads Retreat, 255 Cross Road, Caldwell, TX 77836. Write Berry Patch Cabin on the memo line.  Cross Roads is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization, and as such, all donations are tax deductible.

Garbage Dump?

She said, "We love this place.  It is such a special place. We really felt the Spirit of God this weekend."  These are sentiments expressed on countless occasions by our guests as their weekends at Cross Roads wind to a close; but, she continued, "I know  that lots of others come here, just like we did, bringing their hurts...  issues... pain,  sin, and leave them here on this sacred ground."  I laughed, and replied, "We are kind of like a garbage dump, right?"

I must say, the thought didn't sit with me very well.  I wasn't sure I liked Cross Roads being compared to a garbage dump.  The image of the grounds being poisoned by all that negative energy was unsettling.  I knew God was behind this revelation, and that I was supposed to share it, but didn't know how I felt about it, much less what to say.

Then this morning, the camp manager, Michael, who had no knowledge of my previous conversation, was talking about how so many people came here, dumped their baggage and found a path to healing.  Once again, I knew God was trying to show me something.

Then it hit me,  God can use anything or ANYONE to make something GOOD - even garbage.  Garbage when composted with warm sunlight and fresh air becomes fertile soil.  I see it now, every person who leaves their garbage at Cross Roads gives God the material He needs to fertilize these sacred grounds and keep them producing the fresh fruit of the Spirit.

Praise God.

No One Leaves Untouched

You know, it seems that no one can come to Cross Roads without feeling God's touch. Yesterday a repairman came out to do the yearly maintenance on the refrigerators and ice machine.  Anyway,  after spending a few hours working and visiting he was so moved he volunteered to come back and repair the cattle guard, on his own time, for free. Isn't God great?

We've heard many, many times from folks that as soon as they cross the cattle guard they have an incredible sense of God's presence.  It doesn't matter whether they are come here intentionally seeking Him, or just dispatched to do a job.  God meets everyone who comes here.

New Year's Resolution

I hereby resolve to follow my dear friend, @Ed Wetterman's, example and be a better blogger in 2013! I'm really gonna try to post once a week.  We'll see.

Today is dreary, wet and cold here at @Cross Roads.  The trees have long since given up their leaves. The woods are gray with occasional splashes of evergreen cedar breaking up the monotony.  It is quiet. Moisture is dripping from eaves and limbs.

I am reminded of the purportedly true story about a seedling that someone planted that seemed to be dead. (maybe bamboo, I can't remember)  The gardner faithfully continued to fertilize and water it year after year, never giving up hope that one day it would it would show some signs of life.  Then one day, after about five years the plant sprang to life and shot up 15' almost overnight.  The little seedling had spent the preceding years growing a gigantic root system underground, unseen.  A root system able to support the towering plant that was to come.

Winters can be like that at @Cross Roads.  We miss our friends and it can be a bit lonesome.   But, we know that God is still at work here during this time, even though it's not always visible to everyone. This time is spent fixing, doing, repairing, planning, cleaning, painting, building and renewing our spirits in preparation for when He sends our next guests across the cattle guard.  Yes, God uses the silent work of winter here, and in our lives, to prepare us for the promises that only He knows lie in our future.

Walk Abouts

I've been walking about quite a bit lately.  Saturday morning, after torrential rains pounded the area the night before, two advance scouting parties arrived from Houston to check out the camp.  One was scheduled, the other was just lucky we were there!  So, Pat and I walked them around and through the buildings and grounds.   All went well and we hope to see them back with their respective organizations.

Yesterday as we walked about about the grounds we noticed lots of animal tracks. The rain had wiped the sand clean like a fresh chalkboard just waiting to be drawn on and deer, raccoon, armadillo, and bunnies  obliged.  It was clear the animals were out out and about, too, enjoying the nice weather and probably celebrating the return of WATER to their world.

Rob fertilized and applied weed killer to eliminate burs in the grass the other day, and then the rain came.  God's perfect timing, right?  So, now the grass is greening up, wildflowers are starting to pop open, unfortunately the limbs of the cedar are hanging heavy with the yellow pollen ready to wreak havoc on my sinuses.

But, the good news is - many of the dogwoods are showing modest signs of life!  Some seem to have completely survived the heat and drought, some partially, some are truly gone forever.  I'm still not sure they'll make it, but, I am cautiously optimistic that come the end of March Cross Roads will once again blossom to bless our guests with one of the most amazing arrays of Dogwoods in Central Texas!

Off-Season Blues

Our off-season is rapidly coming to an end, praise God!!!!  From December to January it is way to quiet out here.  Missing are the joy-filled sounds of laughter, the acrid smoky remains of a fabulous bonfire, delicious aromas from the kitchen wafting through the air,  the friendly chatter with my friends volunteering in the kitchen and the smiling faces of new friends as they file past the serving window.  The break is lasting a little to long this year and it is my prayer that the sagging economy isn't finally impacting this little piece of heaven on earth!!!!  

Love In Transit: COLLIDE RETREAT

A WOW weekend with a fantastic bunch of Austin Community College Students on a retreat sponsored by several Austin area churches.  The conference room rocked as (2) great bands took turns leading the students in such powerful singing that we could hear it in the dining hall! Teams of students played field games, others played board games and cards, a handful of powerful speakers shared wisdom for living a meaningful, purposeful, fulfilling life, and there was plenty of down time for naps, walks and conversation with new friends.  The only thing missing was the traditional Cross Roads bonfire.  Will the burn ban ever end????