As the self-proclaimed "capital of the French Alps", Grenoble is a city which provides visitors and residents alike unparallelled access to hiking trails, rock-climbing, skiing, and paragliding, just to name a few of its outdoor sport offerings. For those who explore the mountains and find themselves in need of shelter, there are quite a lot of alpine refuges available in these parts. These are some variation of small cabins nestled in the wilderness able to withstand the elements and provide a safe, dry place for adventurers. This can actually be a scary sight for those who may have been traumatized as children by images of forest houses found in the stories of Hansel and Gretel, Goldilocks and Snow White. For example, once when Emma and I were hiking, we came upon a stone and tin refuge high in the mountains and I swear that I heard someone cackling. Just remember, where one man sees a shelter, another man sees The Shack.
There are two types of refuges, guarded and unguarded. Though that might sound like a war zone, it just means that one is manned and the other is not. To stay at the guarded refuge, one has to book it in advance. The on-site caretaker makes sure the important things are taken care of, like keeping the spider population in check and providing something softer than leaves and smooth sticks next to the seat of porcelain. And guests, who sleep dormitory style here, can usually pay to have a hot meal prepared for them. But hiker beware, earplugs and deodorant are optional. As you might imagine, this type of refuge is not free. In other words, it's a refuge for those who know in advance they are in need of one.
But to me, that makes the first kind of refuge more like a hotel. If I plan and book ahead, is it really a refuge? It seems to me that a refuge is something one stumbles upon or runs to when really in need or difficulty. I think the second type of refuge fits this description better. There is no charge to stay in the unguarded refuge. Yes, things are more basic and the upkeep depends on volunteers or those who stay there tidying up after themselves. But there you'll find the necessary table, chairs, fireplace, and mattress on the floor. The door is always open and it operates on a 'first come first served basis'.
I would like to think of my family and our home as a refuge for students, travelers, and the needy. I remember growing up in a pastor's home, there were times when our meals or television time were interrupted by an unexpected knock on the door. I saw as my parents modeled the unguarded shelter to my watching eyes. Unfinished food or favorite TV programs were quickly left behind to attend to the need at the door. They never let on that their agenda had been interrupted, but rather communicated that there was no one more important at that moment than the unexpected guest. Our simple house with basic needs was, if nothing else, accessible, on a first come, always served basis.
Sad to say, too often today my heart and my house are like the first refuge, with the emphasis on being well stocked, clean and comfortable, but with a preference for advance bookings. The reality is, those I am called to serve in this city need to find a shelter they can stumble upon or run to and always find the warmth and welcome they may need. There are plenty of hotel chains that will cater to the pre-registered but rarely to those at the last minute or on their last dollar. So I am aiming to be more of a forest chalet than a fancy chain. And to be a destination of the unguarded variety.
