Ever year I take a group of pastors on a big loop - most of them newbies - to get away from everything, and to raise money for a missions project. As every BW trip is, it's adventurous and a lot of work! But watching these pastors disconnect from their cell phones, and connect in a new way to their Creator, is a privilege and a pleasure.

It's a lot of work, as many know, to put these trips together. Sometimes I wonder why I do it. Then I remember scenes like this one...

While we were camping on the lone south border site on Pine, I walked up to one pastor who was standing there gazing at the water. He was weeping softly. "I'm staring at water bugs." He paused. "When have I had time to stare at water bugs?"

I didn't say a word. I put my hand on his shoulder for a moment, and then I walked back up to the fire grate.

I could feel the Lord just releasing him from his schedule, his business. It was all melting away.

Jesus would do this with his disciples. He left the crowds, left the schedule behind, to just be with them. Moments like these are priceless, and that's what makes it all worth it...

Thank you and well done, Dreamer, ministering to Pastors by taking them out into our God's Magnificent Creation paddling! I am a retired pastor of 37 years and have found that backpacking when I was younger and canoeing for the last 30 years has been mentally and spiritually refreshing. I believe pastors can suffer from PTSD due to at times horrific things that happen to our congregational members, our people, whom we love. There is a need to get away, disconnect from it all, and experience the beauty and challenges at times of being out there. Again, thank you for doing this ministry! I commend you. I'm 68 and will be paddling in the BW again this summer. My dear wife knows I need this.

One suggestion, Dreamer...it didn't look like anyone was wearing life jackets. For their safety and your's please make sure everyone does.

Thank you for sharing.

Aurora & I are taking a bwca trip this August with a priest (who is a family friend) & a bunch of other people from church. The last time i was able to do a trip with him, it was one of my most memorable adventures. Paddling with Padres, a spiritual Exodus adventure

I just turned 63, been pastoring the same church for 25 years, started coming up here with a dear friend from the congregation and my boys. After 15 years, this has become my annual release. No cell phones, no crisis, no schedule. Just time alone with my friends and with God himself. Not sure what I'll do once my body wears out and I can no longer come up.

preacherdave: "...Not sure what I'll do once my body wears out and I can no longer come up. "

Thank you for your sacrifice and all you do... I have a goal to paddle until I'm 80 in the BW, and then we'll see after that. But there are more important desires that run deep that are so much more important than paddling. I'm sure you have them too. We are looking for a city whose maker is God! That's really what we've been doing all this for, to hear Jesus say, "Well done!" So even if you can't paddle, keep looking forward!

woodsandwater: "One suggestion, Dreamer...it didn't look like anyone was wearing life jackets. For their safety and your's please make sure everyone does.
"

Thank you for caring about all of us. No, I don't force anyone to wear their life jacket, unless the weather gets dicey. In calm water, I don't wear it either. But we're always legal. I know that ruffles the feathers of some, and I'm okay with that...

woodsandwater: "Thank you and well done, Dreamer, ministering to Pastors by taking them out into our God's Magnificent Creation paddling! I am a retired pastor of 37 years and have found that backpacking when I was younger and canoeing for the last 30 years has been mentally and spiritually refreshing. I believe pastors can suffer from PTSD due to at times horrific things that happen to our congregational members, our people, whom we love. There is a need to get away, disconnect from it all, and experience the beauty and challenges at times of being out there. Again, thank you for doing this ministry! I commend you. I'm 68 and will be paddling in the BW again this summer. My dear wife knows I need this.
"

Thank you for all you have done in the ministry! Do pastors ever really retire?! I know their roles change... I'm so glad you get to paddle this summer! My wife went on a family BW trip with us last summer. She rarely goes. It's usually me and my daughters. My daughters, now 27 and 21, will go with me May 27th. In a few years, they'll have families of their own, and I'll be soloing when I'm not with the pastors group. I hope you have a blessed time! Be refreshed!

"When have I had time to stare at water bugs?"

Some of my favorite moments in the BWCA are these types of interactions.

I’m curious if anyone has put together a canoe camping outline of reflections to help with some spiritual campfire conversation. I’m not a pastor, but I’d like to have something I could through in the pack. Any suggestions?

TuscaroraBorealis: " Thank you for sharing. Aurora & I are taking a bwca trip this August with a priest (who is a family friend) & a bunch of other people from church. The last time i was able to do a trip with him, it was one of my most memorable adventures... "

Thanks for sharing your journey! My daughters and I have done this same route. It's a classic, and it's gorgeous. That paddle only took 20 minutes!

TomP: ""When have I had time to stare at water bugs?"


Some of my favorite moments in the BWCA are these types of interactions.


I’m curious if anyone has put together a canoe camping outline of reflections to help with some spiritual campfire conversation. I’m not a pastor, but I’d like to have something I could through in the pack. Any suggestions? "

I’m not sure if this is what you’re looking for, but I lead church groups every year and one of our favorite activities as we split up for at least 30 minutes, if it were me, I would do at least an hour or two. But we sit in silence, just looking at nature, listening to the voice of God and seeing what He has to teach us from the beautiful surroundings all around us then we come back together around the campfire and we take turns sharing with each one of us learned. Truly a powerful experience.

I am a relatively young pastor. I’ve only been past string for about 12 years, and my brother introduced me to the Boundary Waters towards the beginning of my ministry and that is where my desire for this wonderful place started and I crave it so much because it is my resting place the place where I can put everything aside and just listen like like I can’t seem to listen anywhere else.

Then a few years ago, God put on my heart to bring others and at first I fought it because I didn’t want my peace interrupted, but then I thought of what it was like when I discovered the Boundary Waters for the first time and so I started taking groups and watching each one of them fall in love with the place and tell me that it’s the one vacation that they look forward to every year. Also, how they get to connect with God and each other better there than anywhere else keeps me taking more groups.

woodsandwater: "Thank you and well done, Dreamer, ministering to Pastors by taking them out into our God's Magnificent Creation paddling! I am a retired pastor of 37 years and have found that backpacking when I was younger and canoeing for the last 30 years has been mentally and spiritually refreshing. I believe pastors can suffer from PTSD due to at times horrific things that happen to our congregational members, our people, whom we love. There is a need to get away, disconnect from it all, and experience the beauty and challenges at times of being out there. Again, thank you for doing this ministry! I commend you. I'm 68 and will be paddling in the BW again this summer. My dear wife knows I need this.
"

I just want say thank you for your faithful years of service for the flock of God. As a fellow pastor, I know what that means and it’s faithful ones like you that encourage me to stay strong.