Volume 16: Rest in Gifts
"About 60," I answer.
And without fail, every time, the ones who ask are shocked to hear such a large number. What could a summer camp possibly need over 60 permanent staff for!!
One mission. Many gifts.
All coming together to provide kids with the best camp experience.
Some that have been around for three years, some 30+.
Some that grew up going to camp as a camper, some first stepping foot in camp as a staff member.
Some with technology skills, some with creative minds.
This past week, we were all gathered together in Mt. Ida for rapid fires. It was a time for us all to be together and at camp, without the stresses of any of our staff and campers. With a more clear mind, I found myself often looking around the room and being thankful for the minds and personalities that I get to work with.
In our games of Pictionary, Jeopardy and Fish Bowl, some were competitive while others would have rather been simply watching a movie.
In our Gingerbread house competition, some were creative, while others were playing with popcorn and stacking peppermints.
In our meetings, some felt passionate about organizing staff issues, while others were discussing the rainy day plan for Beach Ball Blitz.
Just at our one long table where we shared meals together, I was surrounded by:
The Todds of the world who can edit videos into masterpieces.
The Arikas of the world who are quick to solve issues and think logistically.
The Karleys of the world who enjoy being around others and willing to serve in variety of ways.
The Kori Kates of the world who serve high school kids and sacrifice their energy and time.
The Blakes of the world who execute projects and manage the facilities.
One mission. Many gifts.
Even while we were in our meetings, there were others answering phone calls, others building new cabins, and others fixing wifi problems.
Working for a summer camp may seem simple from an outsider - as many ask, what even occurs for the eight months that camp isn't in session?
Well, a lot happens. And none of it could without the hard work of every single person that is committed to the mission and #builtdifferent.
While there are still a lot of areas I have to grow in within my work, I find rest in the truth that I am one member and bring my own unique gift to the body.
So in this season of "gifts," may we be quick to remember that our God has created us with a purpose and we glorify Him when we are utilizing the gifts He has instilled in us.
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
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One of our advent readings this week was "UNEASE." And it was one of those that was hard to read because it felt as if the author was calling me out...
"The process of growth is always uneasy, because growth never comes through ease. It comes through the stretching and expanding of one's own capacity to push on ahead."
"The difficulty in letting God grow you is the trust that is asked of you when you aren't quite clear what the outcome looks like."
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