“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deut. 31:6
Our Pastor always says, you’re either a camper or a cruiser, but you can’t be both. I have found we are the exception to his rule.
I was actually afraid I would love cruising so much I wouldn’t want to camp anymore. However, I’ve found there are a lot of similarities between the two.
They are both a way of getting away from your normal life. Both allow the luxury of unplugging to whatever extent you want. No cell phones, no WiFi, no connection with the outside world if you want. I have yet found it possible to completely unplug. I’m a work in progress.
Both are filled with people. One of the things I’ve been surprised about cruising is the amount of people on the ship. I find myself going to my stateroom just to get away from people. It’s the same with camping, they pack them into the campground. You can be as involved, or uninvolved as you choose.
Then there is the entertainment. Both offer a variety of all types of activities. From adult to children there is something for everyone. One just is more sea related, the other land.
And the food. One big difference is the food. On the cruise it is constantly available. Of course with camping you have to prepare it your self, but there is always plenty. I will definitely be dieting when I get home from the weight I’ve gained this week.
The best constant is God! He camps and He cruises. I have loved finding God on this ship. He is in the sunrise in the morning, the sunset in the evening and the blue waves which carry us. He has been in the conversations I have had with the people I have met. I have found quiet time with Him which has rejuvenated me, reinvigorated me and given me back my passion.
Whether surrounded by the smells of the campground or the salty air, I find Him there. In all I do He is there. The farther He takes me, whether far from home or close to it, He is there.
Camping vs. Cruising
