I worked at a christian camp for two summers in college. They were summers that made me rethink my desire to teach and made me want to be a full-time counselor. There were crazy ups and downs, but it was a great fit for my hyper-energy level I used to have all the time.
Anyways, didn't know how much God was going to use that time for me. Nor did I know that I would literally replay dreams over a 12 year span that I was still working there. I would wake up from one of the dreams and expect to find myself in a sleeping bag with my girls beside me. (what a crazy mix of two "worlds" that would have been!) Or that God would use the counseling dream to build in me a desire to share my life-pain in empathy with others as they walk through their own tough times. Or that I would be able to "joke" about some of the most painful things from the past 12 years, or be thankful for now and the lack of that. Or that, 12 years after working my last summer there, and then getting married, and that all falling apart, that I would be back in school getting my degree in psychology (and maintaining a 4.0 for two whole classes now as a single mom!)
I was back at camp today for a reunion/get-together and spent some time with a few co-counselors from the good old days. It made me wish that I could somehow, magically, get the "gang" together again. Not possible, because everyone has gone their own way. The dynamic would all be different b/c so much life was lived between then and now. And all of us have our own baggage. There literally is no way to recreate what it was...nor, in all reality, would we want to. Like I said, there were some crazy lows to go along with the crazy highs. But, the years have helped to soften it some. And SOOOOOO many memories were made there. It makes me miss the friendships that were built, the camaraderie of working together. The fun of seeing the light bulb go off in a child's eyes as they figure out God for themselves.
But, in all reality, the adventure of a lifetime that us staffers went on during the summers...that part hasn't ended. You see, when I walk my life with God, and tell Him that He can have all of me to do with whatever He wishes...THAT is the great adventure. He used me in amazing ways at camp, most of which I will never know this side of heaven. He used the campers and the other staff to impact my life in amazing ways. And the adventure He has taken me on, the one that I am still on, is one that I have never regretted. He is the one at the reigns...and it's all about Him!
