It has always been my opinion that the words ‘camping’ and ‘holiday’ don’t belong together in the same sentence, and it was for this reason that when we did decide to buy a tent, we bought one that claimed to be able to accommodate 12 men – for the five of us!
Now those of you who know about such things will understand that when a tent manufacture makes such a claim they are obviously basing it on the 12 smallest men who have ever lived, and who clearly had no issues over personal space and either no sense of smell or exceptional hygiene. In my view our tent is bearably big enough for five, but I couldn’t imagine squeezing in another seven.
This is why I am hopeful that when Jesus made a promise to his friends, that “In my Father’s house are many rooms”, and to the thief crucified next to him, “Today you will be with me in Paradise”, that he was not taking the same liberties with scale as the tent manufacturers clearly do. By contrast the Bible says that “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.” Unlike camping then, something definitely worth looking forward to!