Un-ordinary life of a camp counselor

Everybody's got somebody that cares.
For one week during the summer I get the privilege to care for God's kids, as the Creator's child.
Make sense?
There are a lot of little things but the point is this: it's an adventure.  Sometimes it's more of an adventure than going overseas for a week-long missions trip.  As camp counselors, we get the honor of sharing the Gospel with kids from all different backgrounds. It's pretty cool.
Don't get me wrong! I'm  a huge proponent of week-long missions trips but there is often a language barrier, time constraints, and the added distraction of being far from home.
No, camp doesn't completely eliminate distractions.
When God compels a heart to serve at a camp it's an experience that isn't easily forgotten.  God has a funny way of bringing just the right people to camp and puts them to the test every day.
Sometimes, to really learn, you have to teach.

~:~But you O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations~:~

Looking back, but only for a moment

So our conversation turned to weird haircuts we had as a child today at lunch.
Odd, yet not entirely unexpected.
Let's be honest: there's all some aspect  of our lives that we would just rather leave in mom's dusty old photo albums buried in the bottom of the closet.
But those memories seem to surface anyway.
Which got me thinking about the past.
In C.S. Lewis' book "The Screwtape Letters", 'affectionate uncle Screwtape' informs his nephew that "the Present is the point at which time touches eternity.  Of the present moment, and of it only, humans have an experience analogous to the experience which our Enemy has of reality as a whole; in it alone freedom and actuality are offered them."
That's intense.
We almost exclusively spend our entire lives getting ready for the mysterious 'future'.  Before school starts your parents are teaching you little bits of math, science, and English.  You get to grade school and you spend all your time getting ready for junior high.  Junior high preps you for high school and high school for college.  College makes you pay to prep you for the 'future' which by this point, becomes this unattainable goal that is spoken of in whispers in philosophy classes.
And this guy Lewis tells us that "The present is the point at which time touches eternity."
What up.
In John chapter 14, verses 18-20 Jesus says, "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.  Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me.  Because I live, you also will live.  In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you."
While we do look forward to Christ's return, my focus has to be on how he's here at this moment in my life and I HAVE to trust him with my life.

So I'll take a stroll down memory lane, but only for a moment. =)

How I hate growing older

Let's be honest: nobody likes getting older and getting more responsibility.
You get a job, earn money, spend money, and repeat.
It's a vicious circle that no one has ever escaped from.
Blech!
Friendships become that much more complicated.  You "have" to add relationships into the mix and college is a whole different ball of yarn!
How many of these things are gifts, given by the Creator and how many do I demand as my right?
We talk about in all of our Christian circles about how "once you find Christ you stop searching" or "Jesus met my searching heart".  That's all fine and dandy but don't we continue to search?  I know I have.
But what am I searching for?
That perfect job.  My "best" friend.  Mr. Right. Recognition that I'm something special when I'm not.
It says in 1 Corinthians 2:16-17 "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him.  For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."
Wow.

[insert clever title here]

Its rainy today and it's made me feel like I should be doing absolutely nothing.  Like I'm just waiting for something big to happen, like the snow coming.  Sometimes I feel like I have rainy days in my faith where I get tired of waiting and so I curl up and do nothing.  I don't talk to people and I don't even wear a smile on my face that says 'Hey, I'm a Christian!', I just sit and do nothing. 
Enter into the picture my desire to go to the missions field.  I really want to go NOW, in other words, I'm tired of waiting.  My rainy day has come and its come to stay and for a while I gave up and decided not to do anything.  But my plans are changing and I'm going to "worship in the waiting" and continue to give God glory even though its rainy and cold and I'm waiting for something big to happen.  I can be doing things now to further the kingdom and I may learn more than I'd ever dreamed and God will continue to bless me even while I wait on a rainy day.

Dear Gloomy Rainy Horribly Nasty Cold Arctic Windy Day,
Bring it on.
Love Jennifer