Heidelberg Catechism Question 27: What do you understand by the providence of God?

Answer:  Providence is the almighty and ever present power of God by which he upholds, as with his hand, heaven and earth and all creatures, and so rules them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and lean years, food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty – all things, in fact, come to us not by chance but from his fatherly hand.

Storm passes by on Kekekabic Lake

A violent storm – one which started the fire that affected our route days later – splitting and mostly passing us by.  Two days later getting camp set up minutes before the arrival of Forestry Service representatives who told us that Vera Lake, where we had just arrived, was closed due to that lightning-started fire, but since we were already set up and at the far end of the lake they’d let us stay tonight – when I was so exhausted I don’t think I could have traversed the 200-rod portage off the lake.  A fire that forced a route change that put us at a perfect site for the final night on trail – our first night with no mosquitos and a magnificent view of the Milky Way.  Even that no-bar fleeting signal that allowed a  cell phone call to arrange a pickup so we didn’t need a 3-hour paddle down a windy lake.  

Were those coincidences, or the action of His fatherly hand? 

Continue reading →