Observations

I saw a wonderful thing yesterday.

OK… I saw thousands of wonderful moments yesterday (Derby Day makes for a lot of memories), but this moment was more significant. I had no camera, but it could have been such a wonderful picture… if only my trusty companion were by my side! A young camper was sitting on one of the dining hall porch tables pouring over a Bible while writing onto some loose leaf papers.

Let me list the wonderful things that were happening:

1. She was reading the Bible! Where else does that happen? In the middle of the day, with tons of activities going on and tons of friends to talk with… reading the Bible in the middle of a public place.

2. She was writing letters! This is a wonderful tradition of Main Camp (it happens at other sessions, but not to this degree)… we call them “Plane Letters”. Letters to friends that are not to be opened until the trip home. I have gotten my first Plane Letter, a 4th grader brought me one and very seriously handed it to me without a word. It has an instruction post-it note attached: “This is 4 Plane Letter. Do Not Open until the walkback to your house on closing day.” This is how it is done… these letters are not to be trifled with, they are from the heart.

3. These letters obviously integrated Bible verses and important thoughts together at a very important time! A Plane Letter should convey important emotions, this camper obviously thought that Scripture got the job done.

Many girls bring Bibles to camp, it is on the suggested list of things to pack because they tend to find them useful. I have also given away over 100 little pocket Bibles this session (mostly to counselors but several campers have asked for them too… nice embossed leather, fits in a pocket, will last a lifetime; they are pretty cool). As the summer goes on, Bibles start coming out more and more. Often it is because girls (both campers and counselors) are preparing something to say in public or write privately. Scripture works, once you get used to using it. Sometimes it is just for interest (a personal goal of reading a whole book of the Bible or doing personal devotions), sometimes it helps us say something that otherwise is elusive. A great introduction or conclusion to an important thought.

We don’t encourage “Religion” here. Religion often is perceived to be fake by the campers. Here, God is a natural part of life; not to be preached but to be lived. We get a little teaching every day (see the Devotion link above to hear the devotions captured this summer), but our mode is to simply provide good role models who model normal life in a loving way. The Lord has a seat at the table (so to speak) and naturally works into our daily life. We are not seeking converts, just living a well rounded life.

That was long. Sorry.

I got a little emotional at Breakfast Club. I wanted to encourage the girls to focus on the inside, not just how we look (our weight, clothes, hair, makeup, shape). This is a major problem today, you know that. It is very sad. To see these girls at camp, without makeup and provocative clothing… just being themselves… it is beautiful. They are beautiful, I wish they knew it.

Today is Closing Vespers. Very sad, very beautiful, very touching. A ceremony where the Honor Council leads the camp with my mother and I closing, then the entire camp slowly files down the lake to float their candles while we sing at the shore. It starts weakly, few voices are there (which makes the girls want to giggle, nobody sounds that great when singing alone!). As the camp gathers, the power of the community lifts all voices to become that beautiful voice that we have grown accustomed to hearing. The candles float away, a powerful symbol that everyone understands, as the camp day closes. We end with a prayer, sing taps, and say “Good Night Greystone Girls”. My goodness, this is a wonderful place.

Thank you for sharing your girls. Thank you for supporting this camp. Thank you for reading these long updates.