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. 
