Choosing to Make Life Work – 23L - RELATIONSHIP OF LOVE

            If my commitment is based on a relationship of love, what does that mean?   One thought is that the depth of love can be measured by the mutual trust and respect we have for each other.   This can be true in all types of relationships.  We are part of a team, family, congregation, employees, marriage, who, when committed to each other and the same goals, can have positive productive results.  This also can and does happen when basic values, interests, and goals are shared.   This is the way we develop friendships—not only loving but liking one another.

An important part of being committed to each other is learning how to respect each other’s differences and learning good natured ways to live with and work with one another.   We anticipate joy in our family life, work places and friendships.   Maybe this is a clue to the “abundant life” Jesus promises.   Let us help each other as we desire to “grow up” in our relationship with each other and with Christ as our Lord.

            As we commit our lives to Christ our lives will reflect the fruit of the spirit; love, joy, peace, long suffering, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Is that awesome or what?

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Camp – 23C – SATELLITE CAMPS

Calvin Crest was running satellite programs for several weeks at Westminster Woods.   We would train both staffs during Orientation Week at Calvin Crest and send The Woods staff off up north for the rest of the summer.   We would encourage the two staffs to support and pray for each other throughout the summer.   We also did this when Camp Corralitos was a satellite program in San Jose Presbytery and at Camp Mattole near Eureka, California.  This was like franchising our camp model in several different camps in California.

            Towards the end of one summer, the Calvin Crest High School staff had made plans to drive all the way to Westminster Woods, about five hours each way, after the evening campfire to raid on the staff there.  They were going to turn around and come right back.   Obviously, when I was made aware of this happening I could not believe it.  They were supposedly going to leave all the campers on the grounds for ten hours?   The staff had many creative program ideas and options through all the different years.   This was not one of them!

Choosing to Make Life Work – 22L - TOTAL COMMITMENT?

            There’s an old story about a pig and a hen walking through a dusty western street toward a restaurant at the end, which was to be their destiny.  They paused at the door and on it was a little advertising sign that read, Worlds’ best ham and eggs.”  The hen shrugged her shoulders and said, “Well I guess we’d better get on with it.”  The Pig replied, “It’s easy for you to say—for you it is only a contribution, but for me it’s total commitment.”

            Is that our challenge?  Here in America 99% of us have not been asked to make a “total commitment.”  Most of us, at best, are making contributions as we respond to God’s call to be servants.   We contribute our time, our money, our talent and we are pleased with ourselves.  What does total commitment mean to those of us who call ourselves “heirs with Christ?”  Certainly I am not expected to give all my time and all my money! 

            Commitment is a decision.  It is decision based on a relationship of love.  We are given the opportunity to decide what that means for each one us. 

A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to Camp - 21C - MORE STAFF SPECIALS

STAFF AUCTIONS:  The staff would have an auction every summer to raise funds for a special project that would benefit the camp.   The staff would auction all kinds of things.   They would sell bake goods, art projects, dinners in the home or at  restaurants, ski trips, massages, camp outs, manicures, slave day to clean rooms or houses, you name it.   One year Mark and Paul said if the staff would raise $100 for them, they would both shave their legs. The staff raised the $100 and the boys legs looked like plucked chicken legs for quite a while.  

            The year that the movie, “Young Frankenstein.” came out I promised to sing “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life” if the staff would raise over $100.   You had to see the movie.   The staff could not believe it.   They laughed, applauded and gave over $100 towards the project.   The staff would often raise upwards of $5,000 each year  themselves. 

     There was the usual antics of staffers with water fights and different kinds of pranks.   We would keep hoping these would not reflect negative values and result in injuries, loss of property and wounded personalities.   

STAFF COMMITMENTS:  I would encourage young adults to consider spending at least three summers on staff.   I believed it would result in a healthy experience of faith and maturity.   It also exposed them to the opportunities to make decisions about the kind of values that were consistent with a “wholistic” expression of Christianity.

One of our ex staff woman came to camp as a Pastor and speaker for our high school conference.  She asked me how I could go through 25 years of  Orientation Weeks and keep the enthusiasm authentic.   It was quite an interesting question for me.   I loved orienting each new staff every year.  I knew the experiences they would have throughout the summer would be life changing.   These were young adults who would have influence in the church in the future.   I never got tired of it.

            Through this ministry long time relationships have been formed.   Because of their experiences at camp, many college students who served on staff responded by deciding to serve the church in different ways.   Through the years campers and counselors also made decisions to be active participants in the life of their church, community and world.   Many went to work as missionaries and fraternal workers overseas.   Many, many young men and women decided to be ordained as ministers of the word and sacrament largely as a result of their involvement in the camping ministry. 

CHOOSING TO MAKE LIFE WORK - 21L – GOD CALLED US TO BE

            We are in the advent season—anticipating the coming of the Christ child.  This is a good time to remember your first memory of being a child of God.  I like to call it rediscovering the first love.  In life generally and especially during the busy times of the Christmas hussle and bussle of gifts, parties, relatives, food, etc. we forget who this is all about.   It’s like when you first fell in love—whether it be a lover, a job, an animal.  What was that like?  Always having that “love” on your mind, smiling when thoughts come your way grateful for what you have, wanting to be near and together as much as possible. 

            Well, what about our relationship to God in Christ Jesus?  We are celebrating!  Are we having fun?  We chose to be a part of God’s family.  Take time to be with God in prayer and contemplation!  Take time to express your love of God to friends and family!   Take time to enjoy worship and thanksgiving!  Take time to reconcile with one another and forgive one another!  God is with us!  Immanuel!  This a time to make relationships work and be committed to each other’s success!  This is a time to rededicate ourselves to serving others and giving of ourselves to help those who need help!  To sit with those who need healing!  To love our neighbors as God loved us so much he came to earth, lived among us and sacrificed himself so that we might have life abundant. 

Merry Christmas!