Last Tuesday i had the privilege of being part of the Royal family Kids Camp program. I drove to camp praying about how i was going to connect with the kids. I was wondering how accepting they were going to be of me. When i pulled up to camp, i left my thoughts and my feelings at the foot of the cross. I just wanted to be available. When i arrived there i was greeted by my friend Heather Hammond who happened to be camp nurse and a very good one at that. I then met up with Mark Long and Gayle Freeborn who so kindly showed me around camp. They took me into the cabins and explained to me that every single counselor decorates the cabins with welcome signs to make the kids feel special when they arrive. How cool is that to have these counselors give up a whole week of work and responsibility to such a great and worthy cause. I was humbled by what i saw. The time came to lead the kids through a few songs to reflect and think about God's love for us. We sang and had fun for about an hour or so and then it was time to turn in. I stuck around a little bit with the staff afterwards and talked to some of them and got to here their stories. Now i was humbled by what i heard.
I left camp refreshed, revitalized and humbled and that was just being exposed for a few hours, i can't imagine how much more GOD would've jacked me up if i were there for a whole week like the others were. I felt a connection with the counselors and a great appreciation for Mark and Gayle and for all of the effort they put into this camp. I honestly believe that this is one of the best if not the best ministry at Journey.
On Sunday morning at church i got to hear cool stories from some of the counselors about how the rest of camp went. As i was getting ready to leave Gayle came and sat by me and told me a cool story that blessed me soo much. She told me a story of how after i left that night a little girl asked her counselor about GOD and brought up some of the things i said to them during that night. That very night that little gave her life to Christ, she was just one of many others who made a commitment that week. I was soo humbled that GOD could use me to make an eternal impact in these kids lives.
When i was there that night, a friend of mine Jim Ruffer gave me this red necklace with a starfish at the end of it. He said that it was given to him last year in hopes that he would pray about coming back to get involved and he did. He said that he was going to pray that my heart would be convinced to come back and be involved with camp next year for the whole week. He told this familiar story when he handed me the starfish.
One day a man was walking along the seashore. He noticed that during the night many seashells and starfish had washed upon the beach. Thoroughly enjoying the morning sun and cool sea air, the man walked for miles. As he strolled along, he noticed a small figure dancing in the distance. It made him chuckle to think of someone celebrating life in such an uninhibited way. As he drew closer, however, it became apparent that the figure was not dancing. Instead, she seemed to be repeatedly performing some ritual.
He drew nearer still and noticed that the small figure was a child. She was methodically picking up starfish and tossing them into the surf. He paused for a moment, puzzled, then asked, "Why are you throwing these starfish?"
"It's high tide," she replied, "If I leave them on the beach, the sun will soon dry them and they will die. I am throwing them into the ocean so they can live." The man considered her actions, impressed with the child's thoughtfulness. Then he motioned up and down the miles of the beach. "There must be thousands of starfish along here," he said, "you cannot possibly make a difference."
The young girl stopped. Her face darkened. She chewed thoughtfully on her lower lip, "You're probably right," she said softly. She looked down at the sand. Then she leaned over, carefully picked up another starfish, pulled back and arched it gently into the sea.
With a tone of gentle defiance, she said, "But I made a difference for that one."
I have the starfish necklace now and it's going to serve as reminder in two ways. It'll remind me of God's power to change lives like he did last week at camp. Secondly it'll remind me to be praying about my involvement with camp next year. Can't wait to see how GOD's going to move.
