Choosing to grow

We spent this past weekend down in the Ardennes at Fall Camp. About 20 years ago this was a weekend for families and the youth. Then we focused more on the youth. Now, the last two years, we have put the two back together again. It is a challenge to meld activities for parents with kids, little kids, young teens and older teens – but it is worth it.

For years we have been telling our young people the truth of what it means to follow Jesus. And they have been listening. They want to follow, they want to do what is right. When we all get together, it gives us all the opportunity to really put that into practice – and that is what we need! How can I follow if I don’t have any examples? How can I follow if I am not challenged with difficult options (for example: help someone, or go play)?

At our camps, we always have ‘corvee’ (pronounced: core-fay) or kp-duty (kitchen police – washing up after a meal). Everyone signs up for a turn at corvee and sometimes the camp director has to ‘volunteer’ folks for their chance. Not this group. The young people were some of the first ones signed up. They came to me throughout the week to ask: What can I do to help?

Of course it is also nice to be able to get away with your friends and talk about things that interest you. I enjoyed seeing this group encouraging one another. Besides the talk of music, movies, sports and school, there were discussions about struggles, about fasting and praying, about how better to encourage one another. Some of the young people were the example for me, rather than the other way around.

It was only last year that Gijs gave his life to Christ. In the meantime, he has looked at how better to focus his life on this Jesus whom he is following. What things are most important? How to combine work with faith? How to be more active in the local body of Christ? It is exciting to see!

One of the walks this week was to a rock. I tell people when we get there: That is where we are going (looking up to the top of this rock). Some groan. Some want to start clambering up the rock right away. But there is a path – a winding, climbing path. You have to keep climbing. Along the way, you can look down and see how far you have come so far. Once up top, you can gaze below and wonder at how high you have climbed! And then you can turn around and continue up the path – even higher and further.

Perseverance, continuing, looking ahead and up, staying focused, enjoying the journey along the way – this is what I see on weekends like these. It is so good to be part of the family of God and be able to share this, not only with mature brothers and sisters, but also with those who are becoming mature and those who are still looking for the Way. 

The sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3:19 (remember to at least read the whole chapter)