lessons from camp

Every year, I learn something at camp. This year, I thought I’d share some of the lessons with you.

What we need
A young boy was sniffling in the breakfast line in front of me. I asked him what was wrong and he sobbed, “I accidentally told my sister to shut up and now she won’t forgive me!”

I stifled a chuckle and said, “You know, sometimes you can only control what you do – you can’t control what other people do,” in an attempt to console him. “The important thing is that you said you were sorry and you asked for forgiveness.” I squeezed his shoulder a bit and hoped it helped. (Then I caught the sister in front of him making faces at him.) Ah, yes sibling rivalry. But, the greater lesson – not everyone will always do what we want or what we need them to do.

Carpet ball
You can never play enough carpet ball when you’re seven and you’re beating everyone else, even kids six years your senior. The simple game enthralls young kids and elates their parents. (Mainly because they never have to worry about where their seven-year-olds are during free time – carpet ball has captured them.) Our boys have begged and begged Dad to make them a carpet ball table, but the answer has always been no. (Mainly because carpet ball will no longer be a novelty at camp if they had one at home – and no longer a great babysitter.) Praise God he gives us wisdom where we could most lack it – saying no to our kids.

Brotherly love
One boy picks on another boy. Older brother pops the picker-oner. There are punches and tears, talks with parents and with pastors. A few hours later the two boys are best buds again, proving that brotherly love is possible, even after a fight.

Dancing with Jesus
So you think you can dance? A word picture was told at camp about you and Jesus walking down the road. Jesus’ footprints are steady and consistent, while yours are zigzags, starts and stops, circles...but gradually they come more in line with His. Then, your footprints, instead of walking next to His, are walking in His steps. This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back and seems worse then ever. More zigzags. Deep gashes in the sand. A mess. You are shocked. You understand the first footprints to be your walking as a new Christian. You realize the second footprints was your learning to walk with God and gradually walking in His steps. But you can’t understand the regression and the seemingly worse footprints, until Jesus tells you, “That was when we danced.”

It really isn’t about what we’re doing or how we’re doing it, but with WHOM we’re doing it and for WHOM we’re doing it. Even if dancing’s not your thing – raise those hands, tap those feet and praise God anyway – who cares who’s watching! The Lord of the dance is leading.

Buddy system
Everyone needs a buddy once in awhile. Unless you’re doing something dangerous like swimming at camp, then you need a buddy just to get in. Life should be a little more like that - if we had a “buddy” alongside us for every potentially hazardous situation, my guess is we simply wouldn’t get into as much trouble. Someone would be there to point out the deep water or a big wave or even a thunderstorm. And, if we do get into trouble, we’d have someone there to throw us a life line. If that person is truly a buddy, they won’t think any less of us for screwing up. They’d still love us and help us up. We need more buddies.

Laughter is good medicine
People don’t always get my sense of humor. Sometimes that bothers me, sometimes it doesn’t. But, when you can hang out with a few people who instantly “get” you and then get you back – oh, that’s a little slice of heaven for me. I love to hear funny stories, funny jokes and to even be the brunt of a little ribbing. I’ll just warn you in advance that I’ll give it back. It’s no accident that smiles light up rooms and merry hearts are good medicine. A few good jokes are quite practical, pun intended.

After midnight
A relative of mine used to always say, “Nothing good happens after midnight.” I would propose, however that everything’s funnier after midnight. Late night get-togethers in the dining hall is often the best time to get to know other adult campers – and experience their humor and some great snacks. Getting bruised fingers from playing spoons is worth every throb simply due to good company and friendly competition.

Coffee
Life without coffee is not great. Enough said.

Fellowship
God is good. And all the time. Camp accentuates that and reminds you that fellowship is important, needed and in Pastor Gary’s words: “Instructed.” I find that many people who don’t participate in some sort of churchy fellowship tend to get cynical and lack a certain amount of joy that only comes from fellowship. (This is not to say that fellowship doesn’t sometimes make you want to pull your hair out.) But overall, we need each other. We need to have koinonia with people whom we can trust, people we understand and who understand us and people who care about us. Life is hard enough, but I can’t imagine getting through the tough stuff without the fellowship and love of God’s people.

Opposites attract?
About a half hour after we arrived home from camp, I plopped on the couch, thinking to myself, “This stinks. We should go somewhere tonight.” I found myself feeling a bit depressed that camp was over. Hubby on the other hand, gave a sigh of relief and confessed, “I really am an introvert. It’s so great to be home!”

I was almost shocked that he would be relieved about it - we were only gone two days! “How can we be so different?” I wondered. He tells me I recharge my batteries by doing things with people (away from home) and he recharges his by staying home (away from people).

Perhaps the good is that if our children are one way or the other, at least one of us will be able to understand them, or want to stay home with them. It probably won’t be me.