Volume 93: Rest in How To Know A Person

Which one are you?

On Saturday morning, I was driving the Closing Day Shuttle Bus through the Summit route. As we came around to the barn, we got stuck in a long row of cars, riding very very slowly,  all the way to Main Camp cabin square. 

On the waterfront bridge, a dad who was sitting about halfway towards the back of the bus, called out to me, "What's the hold up this year? Can I get out here?"

As the impatient dad was walking off the bus, there was a toddler, sitting on his dad's lap, singing wheels on the bus, looking around, in awe of the blobs and waterslides that surrounded him. 

Both were in the same exact situation, but had completely different responses. 

As Christians, may we be more like the toddler! Aware of our surroundings, in no rush, just content exactly where we are, knowing he was safe in his father's arms. 

Last week, I began a book I have been anticipating reading called "How to Know a Person." I'm only a couple chapters into the book, but it already has my brain thinking and observing things differently. And has helped make me more aware of all the ways that Ozark creates spaces for people to be seen and celebrated!

On Tuesday, I read the chapter titled "Accompaniment," and it discussed the importance of presence. That presence is about showing up. 

"When someone is going through a hard time, you don't need to say some wise thing; you just need to be there, with heightened awareness of what they are experiencing in that moment." 

Later on Tuesday night, we all witnessed a perfect example of accompaniment. 

One of the campers, Hardin, walked up on stage, ready to perform her original rap in front of all of camp sitting on the hill. But then it wasn't the right karaoke version of the song "Ice Ice Baby," so she got flustered and walked off the stage, despite the crowd cheering her on to finish. 

The show continued on, until a couple acts later, Hardin was ready to give it another go. But this time, as Jake called for Hardin to come back on to the stage, her whole cabin came up with her. In the middle of the performance, Hardin forgot the words and yet her cabin sang along with her, singing the rap Hardin had written. 

A moment Hardin will never forget. Her cabinmates showed up for her in a time of need, empowering her to have the confidence and willingness to get back up on the stage!

We can all probably recall a moment when a friend or team or church or parent showed up for us and how much it meant to us. Sometimes even in the silence, presence can mean so much. 

May we be people that show up! To show our love and support and care!

In addition to witnessing the power of presence this week, there are other ways at camp that I believe our staff and campers are able to feel known and seen. 

One of those ways is through the emphasis of names. The way every single campers' name is spoken on Opening Day as they enter into the gates or get off the bus. 

Oftentimes, I hear comments from our staff, stating in shock, "Scott/Debbie/Ali knows my name?!?" Or  the way the staff members' face lights up when they are called by name in passing. There is something inside us that feels reassured when we feel known.

On Wednesday, after I gave a Primetime talk, I was walking through the suburbs and girls were yelling out, "Hey Morgan, great speech!" and introduced themselves to me. And you bet I left the burbs that night with my shoulders upright and head held high!!

There's a lot of power in calling people by name! We even see Jesus call people by name all throughout the gospels. 

And He calls us by name! May we embrace the truth that we are a beloved daughter of Christ, whom He calls by name! And be quick to help others know that reality as well!

At camp, people are celebrated individually. On Friday, as I was watching the oldest girls hit the mat after sliding into the finish line of the obstacle course, I got choked up. The hugs and cheering and jumping and support for one another as they finish is really beautiful. It's an unique moment for the camper to participate in the race for the last time and feel purpose in it. 

And at camp, individuals feel seen. On one of my 85 laps through camp while driving the Opening Day church bus shuttle, I entered the main gate behind a suburban with two girls sitting out the sunroof, holding a sign. From the large ball field, all the way to the square, I noticed that every staff member who saw them yelled and cheered and smiled, directly at them. I may not have been able to see the girls faces, but I could only imagine the smile that was stretched from ear to ear across their face. They felt seen in a way that they never experience outside of the gates of Camp Ozark. What a beautiful thing! 

In every exit eval, I ask the counselor, "what's something that you want to take away from your time here and implement into the outside world?" Without fail, they all answer something along the lines of building relationships with others. In the camp environment, it's completely normal to make others feel seen and noticed and celebrated and heard. 

Yet outside of camp, we have a broken world full of kids and adults just simply wanting to be known. So may we allow the love of Christ to fill us so that we may be an overflow of His love into the world and know people well. 

I am excited to continue reading my book and learning more about knowing others!

Verse of the week! 

Isaiah 26:4-3: "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is an everlasting rock."

Word of the year, focus, continues to be an important theme! May I continue to focus on God, that I may receive peace. My mind is constantly racing in many directions, but I am able to quiet my mind by focusing on Him. Which then allows me to trust and leads to peace!