Monday, January 10, 2005

Laughter & Hope

You know those places that you visit or spend time at that just feel like home? The places where you feel loved, understood, relaxed, you laugh a LOT, and you just...fit. I have two of those places. One is Saskatchewan, and the other is Camp Wabana. Although they are very different, filled with completely different surroundings and people, I fit in both of these places.

This weekend I spent Friday night to Saturday night at our camp reunion up at Wabana. What a fabulous time!! It turned out to be a weekend with the girls, as we all seemed to be inseparable the entire weekend. We spent Friday night eating junk food, talking about boys (ironically..not about boys who any of us liked..but rather boys who drove us nuts! haha) and watching Ella Enchanted on Jill's laptop. Saturday we kept up tradition and made a trip to good ol' Giant Tiger. After running around in the snow playing a game of "Golden Nuggets" about 12 or so of us ended up back in the cabin crammed in and sprawled out in one of the rooms. We ended up wasting a good hour or more doing some hairbrush/water bottle karoke, as Cinderella and I provided most of the entertainment. It was definitly some serious bonding time for us girls!!

Due to the fact that we had maybe four hours of sleep, a lot of the weekend was a blur. But what I do remember clearly is how much I laughed!! I'm coming to the conclusion that laughing is one of my favourite things in life! It gives me one of the best feelings in the world, and always makes my day. And this weekend was definitly full of it, and certainly what I needed!!

On Friday night we had a little worship service in club freshie. While we were worshiping I was just thinking about how much so many of the people in the room with me had grown. Spidey and Squeaker were leading the worship...and as I thought about it, it just completely filled my heart with joy and pride. In my first two summers, I met and got to know Spidey, Squeaker, G-Funk and Flame. I have different relationships with each of these guys, in various degrees, but each of them mean a ton to me. When I met them, they were just boys..kids really (and each of them at least a foot shorter then they are now haha)..getting their first real job at a summer camp. Their faith in God was small, if it was there at all, and they saw the world with such an immature outlook. But as I sat in the room Friday night, and looked around to each of them, my eyes just filled with tears. Spidey and Squeaker were at the front of a room of people, singing and praising God straight from their hearts. Spidey would regularly stop to pray and just encourage others to set their focus on God. And Squeaker...oh I love when that boy sings! It's straight from the heart and just bursting with passion for his Saviour! And then I was thinking about G-Funk, who this past summer was one of the most incredible male cabin leaders I've ever seen!! Words can't describe how proud I was of him this summer, and how he was with his campers. He went from being like a kid brother to me at camp, to a cabin leader who I looked at with pride and respect! And then my boy Flame. I remember my first summer how he would ride around on his bike, and stop at my cabin to talk to me. And he too has gone from a little ldp, to someone who is now seeking God and has just become such a good friend. All four of these boys have gone above and beyond where I would have expected them to go. And the best part about it is...it's not done yet! They still have so far to go, which only means that God has even better things in store for them and their potential hasn't even begun to show yet!

It all just really got me thinking about how everything and anything is possible in the Lord. Within the past 4/5 years I know each of these guys have had their ups and downs, and serious struggles in their lives...but I praise God for the work He is doing and will continue to do in them!! It just reminded me that we can't ever give up hope. No one is EVER beyond the reach of the Lord..EVER. Look for the potential in everyone. View them from the Lord's eyes. Encourage those who no one else see's potential in...you may be the one person who shines God into their lives. This is true whether you're talking to kids at camp, your peers, people you've just met, and even adults who are older then you. Age is not a factor to God...whether they are 5 or 50, there is always hope..there is always the opportunity for God to use them and mold them into something absolutly beautiful and spectacular.

One final thought. My chickita, Lola just started a blog, so check her out!!

And those are just my random thoughts from my weekend...and I'm tired...so I think it's time for bed...

1 comment:

jill said...

Yay for same and homey places! Camp Waban/Toronto is one of mine too! Or should I say the only one...but that's another story! :P Love ya!

Jill