7 Things I learned at Church Camp

             This past week I had the opportunity to go with 15 4th and 5th graders as well as 4 other adults, from my church - Highland Baptist - to Passport camp near Knoxville, Tennessee. These are a few of the things I learned.

 1. Our greatest strength is our greatest weakness.
  That's s a fancy way of saying that we are all 100% adorable and 100% annoying . . . especially at the end of a 15 hour camp day.

2.  Church camp has come a long way since 1985.

 Thirty-two years ago I chaperoned a GA camp where the 4^th and 5^th grade girls slept on the floor next to me because the Camp Pastor had convinced them all that the devil could snatch them up in their sinfulness and deliver them to hell at a moment’s notice. This year Pastor Will taught us about being the hands and feet of God to serve and love one another. That equaled no bad dreams and the consideration that becoming a Christ follower is more of a way than an event.

 3.Cafeteria workers don’t have to be in perpetual bad moods.

 After spending the majority of my lunchtimes with a tray waiting in line at a school cafeteria, I could have sworn that the job description required frowns and the answer to all questions were an unequivocal no. This week the cafeteria folks were a delight. They smiled at us and our kids. They accommodated gluten-free requests with creativity and poise. They were good listeners and led us to believe that there was no shortage of the good foods they prepared for us. They served us as if our children were the most important guests to ever arrive in their cafeteria. They were the hands and feet of God for a very hungry and grateful group from Highland.

4. Pastor Renee is really sort of a big deal.

And not just at HBC, but in the entire world of PassportCamps. When folks found out we were with Renee, it was like showing up in Memphis under the leadership of Elvis. Knowing how ruthless pastor search committees can be, I’m not sure we should let her out of our building.

5    Even Highland folks get tired of reflecting and debriefing.

. . . but our kids are the only ones to actually give voice to that thought. When Pastor Will reminded us that we would be moving into our small group reflection time after the worship service, one of our campers (who shall remain nameless but whose mom is one of our pastors), with hands in hair, said, “Oh. My. Gosh. You’ve got to be kidding me!” My response, “I feel you, girl.”

6     For full aural osmosis to occur, praise choruses must be sung 25 times at each service.

 (That statistic is straight from Kathy Collier.)

7    Camp friends are like no other.

You don’t really know someone until you’ve seen them try to sneak Mountain Dew in their water bottle or take a shower without soap. You don’t know them until “I love yous” are swapped at bedtime or you’re given a bracelet made at craft time. Camp friends forgive you when you lock all the keys and phones in one room. (Don’t ask how I know.) Only with camp friends can a game of tag turn into a holy and sacred time. Only camp friends can agree to hold each other accountable as we try to Do Justice. Love Kindness and Walk Humbly with God.