Summer Camp

Have you ever attended a summer camp? If so, does the thought bring back a wealth of rich memories? These excursions frequently become defining moments and places where deep friendships and lifetime memories are forged.Often our students at Highpoint Church encounter God in such powerful ways at summer camps. It is not that God is different at camp, but rather it is the fact that many of the distractions of everyday life are removed. Students can actually be still before the Lord. Universally, this is one reason why camps are so effective. Recently, however, I was reminded of a second reason why we experience new levels of growth when we are taken out of our everyday environment and get to interact with new people.A four day training experience with ten other people last month provided my perspective. I knew a few of those attending with me, but there were plenty of unfamiliar faces, too. The training revolved around leadership and relational skills, but beyond the material I observed an interesting phenomenon as this group of strangers spent four days together.Day one was filled with small talk, but as the leaders established a safe and encouraging environment, people began to let down their guards. Something about a safe place and the reality that you would most likely not see each other again brought freedom. Individuals began to share of wounds in their lives as they made personal application in the training. Nothing brings people closer together than pain. As each person shared a glimpse of vulnerability, you realized that a room full of strangers shared one thing in common: we had all been molded by pain.Camp is an opportunity where you can risk being you with a greater degree of freedom. After all, if everything else fails, you won’t see these people again! I’m not advocating that we each vomit our stories everywhere we go, but it did make me think that adults could benefit from their version of summer camp. You could see the countenance of people change as they shared what they had previously held so tight-lipped.From abuse to loss to abandonment, what each of us usually holds on to as our most defining aspect is often what we have most in common with others. I think of Henry Cloud who says that it is only when we understand that we are fellow strugglers that we can begin to experience healing. No matter your pain, God has carried someone you know (and thousands that you don't) through the same circumstance. Our problem is that we frequently don’t feel safe enough to express it.Whatever trial you may be going through right now, I pray you would not believe the enemy’s lies that you are alone, but you would find solace in the fact that every single one of us has experienced the harm of living in a sinful world. If others have not provided a safe environment for your voice to be heard, I encourage you to be the one to lead the way. Often we must become the very thing we are looking for in others to get what we need. Listen to someone with empathy and without criticism and you will give someone the gift of going to camp… without the mosquito bites! twitter | facebook