Though the calendar says summer isn't "officially" over until the later end of September, it is a different story here at LACC. The last session of our summer camp season ends tomorrow afternoon. Nine weeks, 31 sessions, 1635 campers ranging from incoming 1st graders to graduated high school seniors, and 432 volunteers later the season is wrapping up.
Some were first timers and others were seasoned campers. Some of the parents registered online while others filled out the paper form, wrote the check, stuffed the envelope, and licked the stamp. There were campers who rode in with friends or with a busload of church buddies, while some of the "newbies" (especially the first time 1st-3rd graders) came equipped with an entourage: Mom and/or Dad, a sibling or two, a grandparent or aunt, and possibly a cousin--with enough cameras and camcorders to start their own Press Corp!
Meanwhile, the volunteers would arrive in much the same way. Some are seasoned veterans with decades of experience, some of whom would be here numerous times this summer. Others were campers themselves last summer and several who would be campers later in this summer. They all came equipped with a heart of service, a trusty Bible, a well traveled flashlight, a sense of compassion carefully honed by constant contact with life, ready ears, and a "high-five" or side hug of encouragement. They touched lives just as their lives had been touched. They were teachers, trainers, mentors, coaches, encouragers, comforters, leaders, and extended family. They were Jesus with skin on.
And behind the scenes were our "Omegas"--our collegiate summer staff. They facilitated in about every way possible: life guards, meal prep, canteen, T-shirt shop, registration check-in and check-out, power boat driver, meal clean-up, crafts, grounds, archery, nature center, music, liaison, and auxiliary office staff. No task was too small, or too messy to avoid their dedicated care.
While our summer camp season is over, "camp" isn't over. After a well deserved Monday off rental camps begin in earnest for the next several weeks. Along with the rental camps come the week-end retreats. Every week-end from now through the beginning of next camp season can be filled with retreats. With FL weather four seasons are easily doable--as long as we don't overtax our staff.
That sense of serving someone and something greater than ourselves is a strong motivator for our staff and volunteers. They are willing to set aside creature comforts, take a break from the daily routine, and give freely of themselves to others. Serving Christ by serving others. It makes all the difference.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Summer time and the living is sticky
Welcome to July in central FL. We have been experiencing drought like conditions for a long time now. Rain was sparse during the winter and spring. "No burn" notices have abounded from county and state offices. You know it is dry when you hear people wishing for a category 1 hurricane to alleviate the dry conditions!
In the last few weeks we have finally begun to receive the much needed and desired rain. Afternoon showers pop up around 4PM almost daily. Some are slash and dash lightning shows that would make the Imaginaeers at Disney envious. Others are wind blown wonders of ponderous pounding rain. They replenish, refresh and renew. But then there are the other rains--the morning rains.
The rain that shows up before noon is not a blessing. It bumps the humidity up from sticky to sweltering and can take it all the way up to sauna! It is not refreshing. The "feels like" reading on the weather channels climbs into the triple digits. You begin to have empithany with steamed veggies!
Amazing how the human kind respond to the conditions of life. We want the rain. We need the rain. We whine about the rain. We want the rain when it is convenient and coordinated with our schedule. We attempt to arrogantly to "overdrive the conditions" and whine about ending up south bound in the median when we had every intention of heading north--when we should be grateful that we are not hanging from our seatbelts in a vehicle positioned like a dead roach with its legs to the sky!
Sticky is uncomfortable. Sticky is annoying. Sticky empowers sweat stains on our clothes. Sticky is a great reason to avoid vinyl and leather seats in FL! Thanks to my Dad I am the proud owner of an over abundance of fully functioning sweat glands. I don't like sticky--unless it is referring to a sweet roll!
Sticky is a natural part of the summer life in central FL. So the best response is to deal with it. Choose your times and travel carefully. Learn the quickest routes from one airconditioned spot to another. Dress lightly and comfortably. Manage you times and adapt to the events around you. Instead of whining, deal with it!
Many blessings come out way. Refreshing rain that replenishes is one of them. Sometimes at 4PM and sometimes at Midnight and sometimes at 10AM. The rain always replinishes. Whether we find it refreshing is all too many times a matter of perspective. Look for the refreshment.
In the last few weeks we have finally begun to receive the much needed and desired rain. Afternoon showers pop up around 4PM almost daily. Some are slash and dash lightning shows that would make the Imaginaeers at Disney envious. Others are wind blown wonders of ponderous pounding rain. They replenish, refresh and renew. But then there are the other rains--the morning rains.
The rain that shows up before noon is not a blessing. It bumps the humidity up from sticky to sweltering and can take it all the way up to sauna! It is not refreshing. The "feels like" reading on the weather channels climbs into the triple digits. You begin to have empithany with steamed veggies!
Amazing how the human kind respond to the conditions of life. We want the rain. We need the rain. We whine about the rain. We want the rain when it is convenient and coordinated with our schedule. We attempt to arrogantly to "overdrive the conditions" and whine about ending up south bound in the median when we had every intention of heading north--when we should be grateful that we are not hanging from our seatbelts in a vehicle positioned like a dead roach with its legs to the sky!
Sticky is uncomfortable. Sticky is annoying. Sticky empowers sweat stains on our clothes. Sticky is a great reason to avoid vinyl and leather seats in FL! Thanks to my Dad I am the proud owner of an over abundance of fully functioning sweat glands. I don't like sticky--unless it is referring to a sweet roll!
Sticky is a natural part of the summer life in central FL. So the best response is to deal with it. Choose your times and travel carefully. Learn the quickest routes from one airconditioned spot to another. Dress lightly and comfortably. Manage you times and adapt to the events around you. Instead of whining, deal with it!
Many blessings come out way. Refreshing rain that replenishes is one of them. Sometimes at 4PM and sometimes at Midnight and sometimes at 10AM. The rain always replinishes. Whether we find it refreshing is all too many times a matter of perspective. Look for the refreshment.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Landing Gear--you never think about them till you need them
Landing gear are those essential components that give aircraft the capability to safely land and take-off. They are there when you roll down the runway and they are there when you make the final approach, but where do they go during the flight?
Many elements of our lives are like that. They are taken for granted until they are missing. We assume a person will be there until they are gone. Health is part of the norm until the breath falters, the heart stumbles, or the vision blurs.
I have found a disturbing aspect in the lives of some people I have come to know. They assume a faith relationship in their life, but do nothing to grow it, guard it, or ground it. They are startled in the times of trial and confusion when they can't find it. They locate the translucent shell they have carried around for years only to sadly discover that is is nothing more than a nano thin casting of themselves. What they assumed was a faith relationship with God is actually nothing more that a very gross approximation of themselves. The relationship was nothing more than self love and ego-centric adoration.
So check out your landing gear. Do you know where they are stowed away during flight? Are you cycling through your gauges to determine their condition and availability? Remember, this is not a "non-stop" flight. There are plenty of terminals to visit over the course of time. So make sure your gear is ready. Final approach is not when you want to discover an equipment malfunction. Follow the manual and keep your gear in shape.
Many elements of our lives are like that. They are taken for granted until they are missing. We assume a person will be there until they are gone. Health is part of the norm until the breath falters, the heart stumbles, or the vision blurs.
I have found a disturbing aspect in the lives of some people I have come to know. They assume a faith relationship in their life, but do nothing to grow it, guard it, or ground it. They are startled in the times of trial and confusion when they can't find it. They locate the translucent shell they have carried around for years only to sadly discover that is is nothing more than a nano thin casting of themselves. What they assumed was a faith relationship with God is actually nothing more that a very gross approximation of themselves. The relationship was nothing more than self love and ego-centric adoration.
So check out your landing gear. Do you know where they are stowed away during flight? Are you cycling through your gauges to determine their condition and availability? Remember, this is not a "non-stop" flight. There are plenty of terminals to visit over the course of time. So make sure your gear is ready. Final approach is not when you want to discover an equipment malfunction. Follow the manual and keep your gear in shape.
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