A Place Called Shechem

It was five years ago when my mother had the great idea that we all should go to family camp. I was 100% less enthused as she was. However, if you have met my mother, you know that she can con you into almost anything. Though the whole family was invited, only my daughter and I went with my parents in a small car on a 4.5-hour drive to Wisconsin. I still didn’t want to go. I thought it would involve *camping* in cabins and I wasn’t down with that, but I was at least relieved that it would not be in a tent. As we pulled into the old Lawson Estate now known as Green Lake Conference Center, I could feel a shift in my hard heart. The winding roads through the historic estate and the wide-open lake with the beautiful buildings called my name. Then a bit of panic set in. I had packed camping clothes and around me, as we drove through the estate, I could see ladies in dresses, nice shoes and jewelry. For the love. I had no idea what happened. I was extremely thankful for the onsite gift shop that includes crafts from around the world as well as *jewelry*. (And side note, people don't always dress up, people do wear shorts and workout gear, but that was my first gut perspective.) I felt a bit better, but I still had sneakers and flip-flops and I didn’t have any nice dresses. The brochure said formal dinner and I had read that, but really while camping? That didn’t make any sense. It was no lie. I was unprepared.


Have you ever been unprepared? Are you a planer and the answer is no? I think I fall somewhere in the middle. Not entirely unprepared, not entirely a planner. I like to leave room for “the Holy Spirit to work.” Ha! So, this was me, unprepared not just with what I had brought with me, but with what was going to happen to me through the gift of this week away from the hustle and bustle and concentrated time with Jesus.  It has become a place to listen to God.

So, where do you go to spend time with our Abba Father? Is it a certain place in your house? At home, it is on my sofa. I am a girl with a book, a pen, a journal and a Bible. If there is a weight on my heart, it is a walk outside in prayer for a long time listening to worship music. Here at the lake, it is about being outside. As I write, I am staring at the green trees, the rippling water and basking in the sunshine.

The lake escape called Northern Pines has become Shechem. Have you heard of Shechem? It is a place in the Bible. It is not lost on me at all that Shechem is nestled between two valleys. Nor is it lost on me at all that is is a place that was well protected and a place of refuge. I come to this camp just before school starts and there is always something very personal that is resting on my heart and I need to hear from God.

It was in Shechem Abraham pitched a tent and made an altar of worship to God. It was in Shechem that Jacob bought land and settled and built a well. It was in Shechem that Moses gathered the Israelites by God’s command to talk about blessings and curses. It was in Shechem that Joshua brought people together to say good-bye and renew the covenant with the Israelites and God by laying down a large “massebah” or standing stone. It was in Shechem that Joseph’s bones were buried and kings were appointed. It was in Shechem where Jesus stood and offered hope to the women at the well, the very same well that Jacob made. God had a plan for Shechem.

Today, Shechem has become part of the West Bank. The ruins of ancient Shechem were rediscovered in 1903, situated at Tel Balatah two kilometers east of the present-day Palestinian city of Nablus. (New World Encyclopedia). Its history is rich and alive ever still.


Shechem is also Northern Pines. The name of the family camp I go to with friends I have made and love to see that come in from all over the United States and sometimes, other countries. Shechem is my family gathered here including my sister and her family and sometimes my brother and his as well as our parents. Shechem is my daughter thriving through the “Wilderness” and then hopefully moving up to the Jr. High and next year, being a “Wilderness” counselor (though she could go to the Sr. High program. Shechem is my two little nephews playing in the kids Bible school program, having lunch with us and really having a super great time. Shechem is my nephew who struggles with his faith coming anyhow. Shechem is my parents who lovingly welcome us to come with them again and time spent with them here. There are things we all do together, things we all do separately but we come back to Shechem to gather daily and renew our commitment to our family and to God.

Do you go to camp somewhere? I’d love to know where! If you don’t, would you love to come with me? I have a seat for you at my table, you can get to know new forever friends and if


There is a space for you on this dock.
you are a family with littles under the age of 3rd grade, you get free babysitting. What? Click on the link to both the Green Lake Conference Center where we are as well as to our camp Northern Pines that gathers here.

My prayer for you is that you too will have a place called Shechem in your life.