The Campground Retreat

This past week, I had a chance to lead worship for a kids' camp at Camp Allendale. I have been to many weeks of camp, but this is one of the best I can remember. The leadership was stellar. There was something for the kids to do every moment from sunup to sundown. There were backup plans and backup plans for the backup plans. The volunteers (including myself) were treated like royalty. We had all of the snacks and treats that could possibly be imagined. I even had a Klondike bar that had Sara Lee cheesecake inside the chocolate shell. I know, right? Who even invents these kinds of sweet treats? And how many more of them are out there that I don't know about? I felt like Templeton the Rat in Charlotte's Web at the fairgrounds - "a smorgasbord..."

Another observation was how selfless everyone was. Everyone was relaxed and enjoying their days and nights, even the campers. The kids were amazing! The age group was just young enough that they weren't worried about guy/girl things yet. That will come in two or three years. And, through it all, we learned about Christ, we sang to Him, we did our best to give Him glory through all that we did.

I had an incredible week. I wasn't worried about ESPN, FOXnews, relationships, administration, Church conflict, bills, rattling car engines, busted up lawnmowers, the next step, etc.

The continuing thought for me was "this just isn't reality". This was a dream land full of carpet ball, 4-square, Frisbee Golf, and canteen times. No making beds, steel-pipe lead-locked schedules, competition for dollars and members and recognition. But, the counter-thought is that maybe this is more of what reality should be like and will be like someday. There was a freedom there at Camp Allendale that I hadn't felt in a really long time. There was a weightlessness and clarity to almost every moment of every day.

For now, it's back to life and back to reality, but I will do my best not to forget the lessons learned during those three and a half days at the Campground Retreat.