July 13 2024

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The “early-morning report” from Jimboy adds humidity to the otherwise perfect sunrise today. It appears that the “Dog Days” of summer are upon us. This (as Websters says) is “a period of particularly hot and humid weather occurring during the summer months of July and August in the Northern Hemisphere.” Every year, we mark the moment when camp suddenly feels hot. The locust trees wilt and look dried out, the poplar trees drop yellow leaves in the breeze, late summer fruit becomes ripe for harvest, red flowers appear on the river trail, and some kind of insect arises from the grass of the pageant court (I have no idea what they are… they fly around at a height of only 5 inches… interesting). So as temperatures rise with the season (high of 89 yesterday), I encouraged the girls to maintain a perspective about such things. Embrace the season and adapt with a slower pace, smelling the roses along the way.

The all-time high for this area is 100 degrees, a mark achieved in 1983. No matter how “bad” the weather might seem, it can always be a lot worse! So at camp, we actively engage in being thankful and looking for the good. We do what we can to make it less stressful (a wet washcloth over your face during rest hour, putting fans in the windows instead of on floors to draw in cool air, drinking lots of water, staying in the shade when possible). Our campers and counselors are experts at spreading the Great Day attitude at camp and will be for the rest of their lives.

I learned this during summer practices on my high school football team. Those summer practices were very hard… and have provided my standard for difficult circumstances. No matter what I have done since, nothing compares to how hard those summers were in the 80s! Never before or since have I worked harder, felt worse, or dreaded tasks more than those afternoon practices. Those difficult days proved to be a foundation for my perspective, and my thoughts go back to those days when I hear complaints about “difficult” circumstances. It always calms my heart and soothes my sense of discomfort. Camp teaches the same lesson (at least it CAN teach that lesson) and most of our community embrace this perspective.

The fact is, we are uncommonly blessed and it is good for us to be grateful for that fact. An attitude of gratitude goes a long way to make every day a Great Day. This attitude is not delusional; it is actual. We have been given the good news of Christ, our sins are forgiven and we are childred of the Most High with His power in us. WOW. Not only that, compared to the vast number of people who have ever lived, our lives and technological capacities are so abundant and vast that it is hard to compare them to anyone else. An attitude of gratitude arises naturally if you think about it.

Tonight, we will celebrate our camp experience with Council Fire. Many awards will be given to those who have passed levels in their classes, we will inspire the girls to make the most of the time remaining in camp, and we will enjoy the calm that arises from silence in a beautiful place with wonderful friends. We have just finished a blowout fun week that was a celebration of fun; tonight is a celebration of significance. A time to reflect on “important things.” The good of camp is not rooted in programs or facilities (though programs and facilities do enhance the experience, they are not the foundation). The good of camp is rooted in relationships, growth, and the Holy Spirit seasoning all aspects of life. We are growing in remarkable ways… like we have done for a hundred years. Thank you for making it possible.