Most married couples struggle with the same 5 to 10 issues, according to the “experts”. That list of struggles usually includes: finances, sex, parenting, communication issues etc… It seems that no one ever lists what I believe to be a huge stressor in marriage; setting up a camping tent together. If you really want to test your relationship, try this sometime.
Now I know there are Eagle Scouts and Indian Scouts that know how to set up a tent with their eyes closed. For the Indian it’s a tepee, but it’s the same concept; sleeping outdoors freezing your rear-end off.
Early in my marriage, the devil tricked me into believing that camping was a good idea for our family. Satan sabotaged me through a garage sale. I was perusing some wonderfully priced throw away items for sale at one man’s house, when I came across an old Korean War tent. This tent was just slightly smaller than a three bedroom condo. It was huge. It weighed about 500 lbs. I think it was the model tent for the popular 70’s sitcom M.A.S.H. The evil one convinced me that this would be a great tool for family time together, even though I had never really been taught how to camp. I figured I married a Native American woman, she would know something about it. So I bought it for $10. What a deal! After a fork lift loaded it in my truck I drove it home excitedly anticipating Pam’s joy at my purchase. When I got home and showed it to her I couldn't tell if she was in joy or in shock.
That evening, we decided to try to set it up, together. This tent came with at least a mile of poles, a dozen cables, a bunch of stakes and no directions. We were left with our own thoughts and feeling of how to put this behemoth together. Pam would have one idea of how to put it together and I would have another idea. She would say one thing and I would do another. This made for a very memorable evening. You know how people say, “Looking back on it now, we can laugh about it”? We’re still not laughing about it!
I’m of the strong opinion that this should be a required pre-marital exercise before marrying someone. If you can put up a tent together and stay together, you qualify for marriage.
I was thinking the other day that the Apostle Paul was a tent-maker. And he was single! I’m starting to connect those two things together.
Pam and I made it through that struggle and many, many more. The Bible says “A cord of three strands cannot be quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12) This is true even when you’re setting up a tent. Christ has helped us through a lot of things in our relationship and He will continue to do so as long as we invite Him to help. Two people who ask for Christ’s help and strength can make it through anything.
Now back to the tent. We camped in it one time. We actually found that normal campsites were too small for our canvas condo. However, we were able to put that tent to good use. One summer, at my first church, we used it for an extra classroom.
I’ve thought a lot about setting up that tent with my wife and not having any directions and I have come to the following conclusion: I’m glad that God’s Word gives clear directions on how to stay married. Because it can get real lonely and cold sleeping in a big tent by yourself.

Pastor Tim