This past weekend we packed up the family and moved to Bev-er-Lee. No, not nearly that far, but we did pack up and head out to beautiful Lago de Atitlán. This is the deepest lake in Central America and is surrounded by three volcanoes. Atitlan is, without a doubt, one of the top destination points in Guatemala. We were excited to spend a weekend away in the highlands. Clay, Katey and I had been there recently, but Emily had never made the trek and the last time Maureen headed to the lake, it was still the 1980’s.

Although the beauty of the lake is reason enough to pack up and head down the road, that was not our key motivation. We went to the lake so that we could enjoy being with the missionary community of Guatemala. We were just 5 of the hundreds of people who were a part of the 2011 Intermissions Conference. There were people just like us who are enjoying their rookie year on the mission field and there were people who have spent over 6 decades serving in Guatemala. In short, there was a wealth of information spread through a couple of hotels in Panajachel.

Intermissions seeks to minister to the missionary community and we got to benefit from their vision. There was a program specifically for adults, another for high school and middle school students and a separate emphasis for elementary age kids. While Maureen and I were challenged by messages centering on the Lord’s Prayer, Katey and Clay were being challenged by the truths of Romans 1. As a family, we were refreshed by being away to concentrate on hearing from God.

I certainly drove away from this weekend with some deep spiritual thoughts as well as with a convicted heart. There is just one particular quote that was repeated in the Saturday evening message. It has stuck with me and I share it here so that it may impact your life as well. It is from the storied theologian, John Wayne:

“Life is hard. It is harder when you are stupid.”

Words to live by.