Saturday

The Breakfast Club joke is a big deal around here. Campers are always asking what the next joke will be (they know the jokes by heart and love to get hints and make suggestions). 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 me. The subject resonates with all parents of daughters, so I will share it with you now.

It is obvious that our culture has an obsession with beauty. This “idol” is gaining prominence and often consumes the lives of young people, especially girls. Instagram, Snapchat, facebook, and the other social media encourage self obsession as we seek “comments” which tend to focus on the way we look. Sometimes these comments are cruel, sometimes the lack of an encouraging comment is taken as an offense. This massive focus on the way we look is not a good thing. It does not develop good character traits.

It leads to our daughters “playing a role”, “looking a part”, and constantly trying to “out do” her peers so they can stand out in the crowd. The more provocative the outfit the more likes; thus they (and we) are molded in a way that is quite destructive.

Fashion is increasingly intentionally shocking (note the Academy Awards this year!). Our celebrity icons speak powerfully, our voices as parents are weak in comparison.

This tendency to push the boundary of good taste and modesty is a big reason we instituted the one piece bathing suit rule a long time ago. Two piece bathing suits in the 50’s to 70’s were not a problem, but by the late 90’s it was getting ridiculous. A simple rule for all solved the problem easily… but what a shame. Why can’t we agree that “Modest is Hottest”? Because that message fights against the entire culture… we are 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 because 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. We see past “looks”, and such a community is remarkably refreshing.

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) It is clear that physical beauty doesn’t matter to God. He did not choose a physically beautiful body when He took on flesh, (there are no New Testament references to the way Jesus looked… in His presence such a detail was forgotten).

Furthermore, the God of Creation created us exactly the way we are for a reason and the way we look will be celebrated for eternity. He chooses to give us physical imperfections for a reason, we should accept such imperfections with great joy for these details were chosen 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 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. There are some lessons from camp that stick… this is one that I really hope the girls will embrace.

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.