Gratitude

My last talk to the girls is always on the Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11-19). I always choose the same scripture, speak on the same subject, and always feel the same emotion… a deep sense of gratitude that is hard to describe. We have poured ourselves into camp without reservation and have been rewarded with a community that reflects the perfections of heaven. How can we not be deeply moved by the sensation.

This will be a day of laughter, DMC’s, plane letters, and tearfilled moments. It will represent the culmination of an amazing experience that can not be fully understood outside the bubble. Much of what we do at camp seems foolish elsewhere, but we will treasure the memories for a lifetime. “These are the best days of our lives”… at least that is how many of us feel.

Jimmy Valvano once said “If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.” I agree. I like to think that Jimmy V would love Greystone. That he would exclaim with wild gestures and a great big smile “This place is REALLY, REALLY special!”

I feel led to write on something that is on my heart today… something I have never written on before but might need to be addressed… online reviews.

We have never solicited online reviews (choosing to let the camp speak for itself seemed the “classier” path) but I wonder if it is not time to at least bring it up. Reviews are a part of our witness to the world. We are a Christ-centered camp, negative reviews reflect poorly not only on us, but on God. I want Him to be Glorified with every aspect of our camp and reviews are (like it or not) a part of our witness. You (whoever is reading the blog) “get” camp better than anyone. You understand what we do and are able to articulately convey this reality… Your voices are what are needed if reviews are to be useful.

So this is an invitation to review camp if you get a chance. Google, Facebook, Camp Ratingz all have reviews of Greystone… all but Facebook are pretty lame, but I suspect it is important to represent ourselves accurately on all of them. Prospective campers, parents, and our competition should accurately understand what we do. Reviews are sometimes the first place people go to get a sense of what a place is like. I like the idea of having more voices heard in such a place. Don’t worry about it if you don’t want to write a review (I never have posted a review of anything… don’t like to do it so have never even considered doing so… but my opinion has shifted and I plan on being more active in this way in the future).

Time to wrap up the blog… this is a busy day and I have already spent too much time! So I will go out and enjoy some “taco in a bag”, soak up the sights and sounds of Main Camp, and make sure we are all set for your arrival tomorrow. The day will be filled with a lot of little jobs that will make the time fly by in a blur. When taps plays for the last time tonight, my heart will be full with our experience of camp this year. I trust this is true for ever camper and counselor who is blessed to have been a part of our Best Summer Ever!

It has been a pleasure.

LATE UPDATE ON TENNIS:

Congratulations to both Nell Covington and Piper Harrell for reaching the finals of the Greystone Tennis Tournament Championship. This afternoon, Nell defeated Piper 3-7, 6-3, 11-9 (super tie-breaker). Nell was down 6 match points 9-3 in the super tie-breaker for the match and won 8 points in a row to win the championship. Last year she defeated a different opponent in a super tie-breaker 19-17 in the finals. It was an amazing match and both girls played exceptionally well.