Beauty

The Breakfast Club joke is always anticipated by the girls. They come up to me throughout the day asking what the next joke will be (they know the jokes by heart and all I have to do is give a simple word hint and they get it). Today’s joke was a favorite “I Can See Clearly Now Loraine Is Gone” (ask your girls, they will tell it to you). While we love the jokes, the 3 minute life lessons are the real reason for the tradition. Some subjects are more poignant than others, today’s was probably the most emotionally charged lesson of the summer for it had to do with beauty.

We all know that our culture has an obsession with beauty. Perhaps it has always been that way but it seems to be getting worse. We yearn for physical beauty and this “idol” often consumes our lives. Instagram, Snapchat, facebook, and the other social media options share a common thread: an encouragement on self obsession that tends to narcissism. The more provocative the picture the more likes it gets, thus our daughters are molded in a way we often do not think is good.

Woman fashion can be intentionally shocking, one of the reasons we instituted a one piece bathing suit rule a long time ago. Why do we not all agree that “Modest is Hottest”? Because that message fights against the entire culture… we find ourselves outgunned.

At camp we step away from these cultural pressures. We don’t put on makeup, don’t spend a lot of time choosing outfits, don’t have access to social media, and don’t worry about boys. Here we simply are ourselves and after two weeks we are beginning to “get it”. Being ourselves is OK… in fact, it is AWESOME!!!

Here we love each other, warts and all. We let our guard down, finding out that we are OK just the way we are IF we are living together with love. We now find ourselves laughing out loud (even if nobody else does), talking to friends about our joys and our disappointments, our hopes and our fears. We find ourselves becoming friends with the most unlikely of people… discovering that there is magnificence in every person if only we get to know them.

So today I talked about beauty, the kind of beauty that Jesus (God Himself) chose for his own form on earth. “He had no form or majesty that we should look at him,and no beauty that we should desire him.” (Is 53:2) Physical beauty doesn’t matter to God. He did not choose a physically beautiful body when He took on flesh… there is a lesson in that fact. He does not want us to worship beauty (our natural inclination). He chooses to give us physical imperfections for a reason, we should accept our bodies and our looks with great joy for these details were chosen by the Living God for a reason. He does not make mistakes, we should trust him in even this difficult thing. We should not reject what God Himself has chosen for us but should delight in His gift of life and love.

I do get emotional when I speak on this subject for I see the pain in so many eyes. Campers and counselors alike struggle… and the struggle can be devastating. I am glad to have had the chance to say it out loud. I hope that it was heard.

Today will be a really great day. We will enjoy perfect weather (blue skies, low humidity, high temperature of 79 degrees), play hard in our classes, and have a really fun EP (counselor talent show). The menu features some favorities: Chicken Broccoli and Rice/ spaghetti and meatballs… life is good.

We are having a blast. Thank you for making it possible.