CamDevo

In October 2025, a street play in Kerala, India, was performed to educate and warn people of the dangers of stray dog attacks. During the play, a stray dog ran onto the stage and bit one of the performers. Believing this was part of the play, the audience simply watched as the man was bitten on the feet and hands.

That same month, in Paris, two men dressed as construction workers drove a stolen ladder truck up to the Louvre, rode a lift up the ladder to a window, smashed through it, grabbed $88M in jewels and rode the lift back down, escaping with two more men waiting on motorcycles. Bystanders and staff didn’t recognize it as a real crime initially. They thought it was some kind of performance art installation or legitimate maintenance work.

We humans put up with odd, even horrible, events when we trust the intentions of whoever is in control. The dog play’s audience trusted that the performers had control of their stage. The Louvre attendees trusted the security of the venerable institution.

Many times a day we put our trust in institutions, authority figures, technology, and other people. We get on planes, assuming it has undergone thorough maintenance and the pilot is capable and competent. We cross the street at the walk signal assuming the drivers are paying attention to the traffic lights. We eat food delivered to us without question believing it to be prepared safely in clean conditions.

When things don’t go as expected, we are initially confused. And then shocked and rattled. Why did that plane crash? That’s not supposed to happen! Our faith in the airline company is broken.

Everything and everyone on earth is fallible. Bad things happen. All the time. People get distracted, selfish, or lazy and neglect important tasks. Other people find ways to exploit our trust.

It’s hard to keep trusting people in this environment. And maybe we should be more careful, vigilant and skeptical.

But we never have to be skeptical of God. He is the only one who is always trustworthy. His intentions for me are always good. He loves, encourages, and urges us toward growth, courage, and righteousness.

“For I know the plans I have for you” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
(‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11,‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

Even when bad things happen in my life — and they definitely will — I know God has a plan and purpose for my life. He can work it all out for good when I put my trust in Him.

Dear God, thank you that I can trust you in all situations. Even when I don’t understand what is happening around me, I know you are here with me, you love me, and I can trust that your will is good and your plan cannot be thwarted.

Imagine something impossible. I guarantee that there is someone out there trying to figure out how to do it.

For example, it is impossible to grow younger. But there are millions of people trying desperately to find a way to be young. They try various diets, surgery, ointments, drugs, dyes, wigs, acting young, marrying young, even infusing themselves with a young person’s blood. It’s absurd.

Meeting God is one of those impossible things. We just can’t do it. People try all sorts of things like meditation, drugs, travel, reading various philosophies about God, experimenting with ancient rituals, idols, temples, and gurus. None of it can bring me close to the Creator of the Universe, the One True God.

Why?

The answer doesn’t have anything to do with where God is. He isn’t hiding. He isn’t hard to find. That’s not the impossible part.

God is impossible to approach because of who He is. He is holy. He is pure love. Brilliant cleansing light that no human could tolerate. I couldn’t approach Him anymore than I could approach the sun’s core. I can’t even come within 3 million miles of the sun without burning to a crisp, and that’s with a spacesuit.

“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬, ‭CSB)‬‬

Jesus is the only way to God because He is the only one who can protect me from God’s holy cleansing fire. He did this when He was crucified, taking my sins — past, present, and future — with Him. When I accepted Jesus into my life, He removed the evil from my soul that would be burned by God’s holiness. Jesus isn’t some spiritual space suit or heat-shield. He transformed me so there is simply nothing left to burn. So now, with Jesus, it is safe for me to approach God.

Jesus is the only way to God because He is the only one who offered to forgive me and was able to cleanse me with His sacrifice and present me to God as holy. Unburnable.

Dear God, you are perfect, beautiful, and holy. Imperfection and evil cannot survive your presence. Thank you so much for sending Jesus so that I can approach your throne with confidence and joy no matter what I’ve done. Your forgiveness is so welcome, so undeserved, and so marvelous.

I don’t have to deal with a lot of blood in my life, thank goodness. I am not an emergency room doctor, nor do I work in a slaughterhouse. Both of these professions see a bit of blood on a daily basis, I imagine.

In Biblical times, everyone saw a lot more blood. People raised animals and killed them for meals, and sacrifices. Unlike me, they couldn’t buy a chicken already beheaded, butchered, and plucked at the local market. When I order a hamburger, it arrives in front of me looking nothing like the cow it came from. Even when I make my own hamburger, I pull a blob of pink goo wrapped in plastic from my freezer. I don’t have to look the animal in the eyes and see its fear or confusion or pain. Or witness its blood being spilled. Gruesome.

I could become a vegetarian, but who’s to say the leeks I wrestled from the ground weren’t screaming in pain, in a language I don’t hear, as I yanked them up by the roots. I hope not.

My point is that for me to eat and sustain my life, something else must die. Aside from honey, every other food requires death of some sort. Or as the Bible often puts it, blood.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬, ‭CSB)‬‬

In the spiritual realm this is also true. For me to live, something else must die. Why? Because for there to be justice, evil must die. God requires perfection. No evil. Only goodness and love. I am not perfect, and no matter how hard I try, I will never be perfectly good.

But God doesn’t want His children to have to die because of sin. He made a way out, if we choose it. First, He gave the method of animal sacrifice. That was a temporary measure that further illustrated how bad we are at being perfect. We couldn’t even get that right.

Fortunately, Jesus came and took the place of all those animal sacrifices. He did live a perfect life so He was the perfect scapegoat for the punishment I deserved. And He died, spilled His blood, so I could live.

I never want to witness what goes on at a slaughterhouse. I’m even more grateful to know I won’t end up at the ultimate slaughterhouse where all evil is destroyed for good. I have Jesus, and His willingness to go there in my place, to thank for that.

Dear God, you are perfect, pure, holy, and true. I am none of those things. I am so glad that you love me anyway and have provided such a simple way for me to escape my punishment and also to be cleansed so I can enter your pristine presence without mucking it all up. I am so very grateful!

My body doesn’t know what’s good for me. If I obeyed every craving and hunger pang, I would weigh 500 pounds. I would eat an entire cake, roll over, take a nap, and wake up to eat another cake. These desires are not logical, healthy, or wise.

Fortunately, I don’t have to do everything my body tells me to do. I have a brain that understands the dangers in following my physical whims. Although the warm sun feels good on my skin, I shouldn’t lay in it and bake. Although it may be fun and exciting to bet my money on a game, I shouldn’t risk money that I need for rent. Although I might be flattered by attention from someone who is not my spouse, I would lose all the trust in my relationship by indulging my ego.

Even though I know the right thing to do, my body can be pretty persuasive. Just saying no can be challenging because yes is easy and feels so good.

Currently, I’m trying to forego processed sugar. At least for a few months while I get a handle on my sugar cravings. I am two weeks in, and my body has let me know how unhappy it is with the situation. But my brain knows I’m doing the right thing.

I have found that the best way is not to just limit sugar but cut it out entirely. If I allow any sugar, my body just screams for more. If I allow some, why not just a little more? But if I always say no, my body will eventually stop asking. Or at least stop demanding.

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭24,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Sugar is not the same as sin, but my body craves all kinds of things, many of which are sins. Gossip. Lying. Sloth. Hatred. Apathy. Selfish indulgences of all kinds. If I allow any of the things that draw me away from God, anything that is counter to His character, I will only want more. Sin begets sin in a similar way that sugar begets sugar.

Fortunately, God has provided freedom from the cycle of sin. His Spirit dwells in me as His follower giving me strength to say no to my body. And importantly, forgiveness when I fail.

I am no longer trapped by my selfish and unhealthy desires if I consistently say no to them, “crucify” them, and make room in my life for good things instead. Good things like love, peace, joy, kindness, patience, self-control… Or in the case of my sugar cravings, when I fill up with good things like salads and balanced meals, there is less room for sugar.

Dear God, thank you for my healthy body that is often trustworthy. Thank you also for the realization that just as often my body does not want the right things. Teach me your ways and fill me with your Spirit so I know the difference and have the strength to say no to the bad but yes to all your goodness.

Powerful, wealthy, and famous people are really hard to talk to. If I asked Bill Gates to meet me for coffee, do you think he’d show up? If I looked for Taylor Swift near her home in Beverly Hills, do you think I would find her? If I showed up and knocked on the White House door, do you think I’d get an audience with the president?

Fortunately, God is not a recluse. He doesn’t ignore or turn away people who seek Him out. He doesn’t wear a disguise or hire bodyguards. He doesn’t hide out at a private estate with impenetrable walls, security cameras, and privacy hedges.

“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭8,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

God is delighted to make Himself present for anyone who asks for Him, looks for Him, or knocks on His door. God is more powerful than any human could ever be, yet He makes himself available anytime, anywhere to all sincere seekers.

And a funny thing happens when I spend time with God. Often, the thing I came to ask Him about doesn’t really seem to be what I want anymore. Sometimes, something better comes to mind.

One time, back when Dorothy Hamill won her gold medal, I really wanted a haircut like hers, as did every other young girl. Fortunately, when I requested one from the stylist who was about to cut my hair, she talked kindly to me about the curliness of my hair, the shape of my face, and my lifestyle. She showed me some photos of haircuts that were much more suitable for me. We agreed on a different style. Because of her gentle wisdom, I wasn’t disappointed that I didn’t leave with a Dorothy Hamill wedge. I was excited to show off my adorable bob.

Hanging out with God is like that. Maybe I came to the meeting wanting something that wasn’t right for me, not healthy or good. When I listen to His loving wisdom, my desires change. God delights in giving me good things because He loves me. But He doesn’t just slam the door in my face when I ask for the wrong thing. We talk about it. And if I listen with an open heart, I grow, learn, change, and get the best.

Dear God, thank you for your promise to be present with me always. Thank you also for your loving desire to give good gifts to your children. Help me to trust you to know what is good for me. You know me, and you know my future. Open my heart to change my desires so they line up with your plan for me.

No one wants their life to become a to-do list. And yet, every day brings new things that need doing. My list only seems to grow and never shrink.

Because the to-do list seems to demand control of my day, I run out of time to do fun things like paint or play the ukulele. “Where’s my retirement free time?” I whine.

I was feeling particularly put-upon one day when I barked at my husband. Why am I the one that always empties the dish washer and folds the clothes and empties the trash? How come I have to make the appointment to get the car fixed? When did the job of grocery shopping get assigned to me?

My argument was ill-timed because, unbeknownst to me, he had just spent three hours working on a project that I had been avoiding.

This world is hard, and there is a lot of work involved in living and surviving. This is a result of “the fall” when God pushed the rebellious Adam and Eve out of the garden, announcing that they will have to struggle from now on. Life is struggle.

While this is true, some have it easier than others. When I’m feeling overwhelmed by mundane chores, it is helpful for me to remember how good I have it. I can get clean water just by turning on a faucet while many people in the world don’t have that luxury. I have a warm, safe bed to sleep on every night. And I have my husband, my partner in life, to share all this work with.

“This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭16,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Everyone has struggles. Usually I have no idea what other people are going through. When I start to whine about my troubles, it’s because I am only thinking about myself. Jesus never whined about His struggles. Why do I have to heal all these sick people? Why do I have to feed 5000 families with only 2 loaves of bread and a few fish? Why do I have to be nailed to that cross when I didn’t do anything wrong?

Love means doing the stuff that needs doing. Even if it seems unfair. Even when people don’t notice how I’m taking care of them. Even when they aren’t grateful. Love means being like Jesus.

Dear God, thank you so much for not whining about your life but doing the stuff of love. Thank you for being a living model of what love means. And thank you so much for going through with your sacrifice so I don’t have to. Give me the strength to humbly and gratefully do all the stuff of love today.

Lately I’ve been sulking about how nothing in this world lasts. Nothing good stays good. No matter how sturdily a house is built, it decays, sags, cracks, rots, and eventually falls down. Good maintenance can prolong its life, but even a well-cared for roof will need to be replaced at some point.

We purchased the home we currently live in as a new build, a brand new house. We’ve lived here less than a year and repairs are already needed. A drawer suddenly doesn’t close properly. The furnace has developed a rattle. A window cracked.

My own body is frustrating me in a similar way. As I age, there is no stopping the changes headed my way. Hair graying, eyes blurring, muscles weakening, skin sagging. Sure, there are maintenance tasks that can mitigate these degradations temporarily, but eventually my body will return to dust.

Everything changes here. Friends move. Jobs become unstable. Laws change. Weather patterns depart from historical norms. A familiar path is suddenly blocked. Businesses close. Prices rise. A family doctor retires.

Sometimes the changes we experience are good ones. But even good changes require adjustment. Change is hard but absolutely unavoidable. Except…

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.” (1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭34‬, ‭CSB)‬‬

God never changes. He is the Great I Am. He always was and always will be. He exists in all the verb tenses.

God doesn’t get tired or distracted by boredom. He doesn’t sleep or go on vacation. His mind doesn’t wander. He can’t be tricked or fooled or swindled.

God’s character does not change either. He is good. He is love. He is wisdom. He is all-powerful and infinite. He is everywhere, always, all at once.

God is the one and only thing that does not change. And He is the only thing I can count on. And the only one I should ever rely on.

Dear God, thank you for the reminder that you, and only you, are reliable. When I put my hopes in anything or anyone else in this world I am headed for disappointment. Teach me to rely only on you and not to worry about losses I suffer here.