Back from Middle School Camp

I have to admit, I had a great week at camp.

For some reason, about 5 months ago I began to get the feeling that God wanted me at Middle School Camp at Rock River Christian Camp. I can't really explain it... it was just this feeling that I needed to be there. And my hope was, that I would come away with a clear sense of why that was. But I didn't. So, maybe God's got something in the works that I'm still unaware of or maybe He used me to do something in the life of a student that I was unaware of, no matter. I'm just trying to be faithful... emphasis the word "trying."

But it was a good week. I lead so much. I lead so much among our students (trips, retreats, events, weekend stuff, small group stuff...) and I lead so much among my adult leaders (meetings, planning, training...) that it was good to just relax and follow. I had no responsibilities other than the guys in my dorm (and I shared that responsibility with two others) and the students in my family (which I shared with another incredible teenager Makayla from the dean's church). It was great to just play, without worrying about what was next and worship without worrying about the message.

I did have a couple of opportunities to participate. I played the "Prodigal Son" in a little monologue deal on Tuesday night. I always gave a communion meditation of sorts on Psalm 24 before we sang the song "Clean Hands." Which was good.

But it was also great to have students ask me what was next and my response was, "I don't know." And I really didn't. I can get so wrapped up in leading that it's tough for me to relax and just be present. And I really felt that Sunday night and into Monday. Both days, I spent some time thinking to myself, "I would have do it that way... or that would have been better this way..." and then God kinda said, "You know what, you don't have to worry about it. So just relax."

And that was what I did.

It was a long week. It was a busy week. It was a tiring week. And anything but vacation. But I feel refreshed nonetheless. It was a good week.

Jim