Volume 92: Rest in People
A job that consists of....
Setting up inflatables.
Picking up trash all around camp all day.
Moving trunks and duffel bags to cabins.
Living in non-air conditioned cabins.
Being far away from home.
Yet, we have 36 Support Staff returners...
Why? Why do they come back?
Because they get to experience a new country?
Because they get to try new activities around camp?
Yes, those are some reasons for sure.
But on Saturday night, we gathered our 2nd year returners to thank them for their hard work and leadership. We had a time where we asked them to share why they decided to come back this summer and every person that shared quickly answered, "the people."
In their time at camp, they become a family. They get to know one another on a deep level, as they do every day life together.
The friendships made.
The family formed.
And I think that's what anyone who returns to Camp Ozark would answer - they come back for the PEOPLE.
Last Sunday, our typical Sat Lot crew was circled around the table under the shed, laughing about the most stupid things and in the moment, Maryanna interrupted, "Dang, I'm going to miss y'all... I'll never love my coworkers like this in my next job."
It's all about the people.
Every morning, I take some time to record 3 things I am thankful for from the previous day in my daily gratitude journal and they always involve the moments with... the people.
The moments of sitting on the rock wall outside of All Girls Lifeline with Yellerton, Debbie, Ellie and Kori Kate, laughing about the book Debbie and I will write (yes, that's right!!!)!
The moments of cracking up with AC after I accidentally spit my water out on Ethan.
The moments of choreographing a dance while wearing lifejackets in 4 foot deep water at the lake with Nikki, Isaac and Matt.
The moments of sitting in the PAR office with Jonathan, Jake, Ellie and Yellerton worrying about a "missing" staff member for a hot second.
The moments of standing outside the Burbs Bathhouse with some wonderful counselors, Madison, Emme Hope and Frances.
It's all about the people.
Yet, while the people are the center of my gratitudes, they are also often the root of many of my frustrations...
A tricky dynamic to navigate! We were made for relationships yet we are all human and fall short every day!
I've recently been feeling a bit burnt out... exhausted by.... the people.
Leaving on Saturday.
Not doing their job well.
Complaining.
I'm running low on my patience and grace.
Therefore when Debbie mentioned an author that she has always loved, Jill Briscoe, I saw a book she wrote titled "Running on Empty" and immediately ordered it. What a gift it has been to read in this season! In the book, she goes through different characters in the Bible and explains how they avoided/endured through different types of burn out.
And this week, after a hard day, I opened the book for my daily chapter and was pleasantly surprised by the chapter being titled "Moses - People."
I know Moses's circumstances were quite different than mine at Camp Ozark, but I found encouragement through his story and the way he also struggled with the people he was leading.
He dealt A LOT with people complaining, angry at him, questioning him, and coming to him with their problems. When reading Exodus and Numbers, you actually feel exhausted of simply just reading about the people constantly complaining... God continues to provide for them and perform these amazing miracles, yet then they quickly complain again...
At one point in Numbers 11, Moses is finally fed up and says to God, "I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. If you will treat me like this, kill me at once..."
Oof... He was burnt out... even though he was physically fit and had a close relationship with God, he was so fed up with the people around him and wanted to give up.
In another instance in Exodus 18, Moses was meeting with the people all day long to judge them, counsel them, and instruct them on God's laws. Yet when Moses's father-in-law, Jethro, saw what he was doing, he said to Moses "What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you." Jethro then goes on to instruct Moses to find able men to help lead the people.
On one end, Moses was worn out by dealing with the people and then, on the other end, Moses was trying to take on too much.
Either way, dealing with people is a hard task. As Jethro said to Moses, "You are not able to do it alone."
So how do we do it? How do we handle the burdens of others? How do we lead the complainers? How do we endure at the point where we feel like we have nothing left to give?
We remember that God is with us.
Before Moses was even called to lead the people, God had to remind him of this truth.
When God speaks to Moses through the burning bush, Moses quickly responds, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"
And God responds, "I will be with you..."
Again, Moses doubts his calling, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and tongue."
Then God said, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak."
Moses then responds, "Oh my, Lord, please send someone else!"
Boy do I relate to Moses in these self-doubts! How often I question, "Who am I to be in this role at camp? I'm not good at challenging our staff... I give in too easily... I'm not good at articulating my thoughts... I am confident someone else could do a much better job in this specific role!"
Yet, God constantly reminds me that He is with me. That He has placed me in this specific role at this specific time for a purpose.
He reminds me through the small moments of:
Olivia Fox adding another week, even after a really difficult summer at home!
Zoie Herring adding all of 5th, after at first just wanting to work 3 days of H!
Syd Stevens sharing that she had the best conversation with her campers and sees God moving in their time here at camp!
Despite all the hard with people, there is always more good.
I am growing! I am being stretched! I am learning!
All thanks to... the people.
May I not complain! May I embrace the opportunities that I am given! May I surrender to Him and allow His truth to be the guide of the words I speak and my actions.
May I lean on God. May I take my worries and the burdens of others to His feet.
And may I work alongside others! And be grateful for the trustworthy, God fearing, able people that I get to do this great work with!
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