Oh summer camp, how you consume my life for months and allow me to both be myself and stretch me in every way possible! Oh God how you have given me this incredible blessing of summer camp, yet challenge me to never be still and comfortable! Anyway - I'm hoping to share more here again on a regular basis now that it's almost September.
Yet, I am turning to a new chapter in my life as well. Since last January when I began working full time at camp, I have fully settled in here and LOVE my job. This summer I had the opportunity to work with an amazing group of young people on staff and support them/challenge them/and see them grow. I loved every minute of it (even if I didn't think so at the time) and I only hope that God continues to bless our camps and myself with many more years of summer camp!
However, now I will attempt work at camp (full time) with seminary (part time, and as much online as possible). Yes friends. I am starting. Who knows how long it will take me to finish this way - but I love my job in ministry here and I don't want to quit to go to school to do what I'm already doing here!!! I feel called to serve. I have a heart for the church, yes I know that she has her flaws - but that's mostly because the church just like the world is full of people, and we are all flawed! We hold grudges, we like our routines, we struggle with change, we judge each other, and we fail to reach out. But I still love the church. (And people in general). Even after lots of reflection, I honestly don't think that my love of people solely rests upon my intense optimism, it rests upon my Lord and God. It hasn't always been there. Many people in my life have hurt me and I have been wounded in ways that don't tend to heal easily. Yet behold the amazing power and love of God! He can fill us all with his love for creation and his people. There are so many others out there still hurting and struggling to simply provide for their families and live life. Church - lets go to them and help! In every way possible - from sharing our food to sharing our hearts and welcoming others into our places and spaces, making a home together.
Never easy, this I know. But church, I'm not backing down. I love camp - but I love camp not just for the obvious beauty, but for the fact that camp is such an amazing place to embrace the wounded and nurture them until they are ready to go back out and into the world. We all need to go. Jesus makes that clear - "go out and make disciples". No matter how much we love our churches, our families, and yes even camp - we need to go out into the world and share the love and light of God.
So I'm going out to seminary. To learn more to in turn teach more. I'm ridiculously nervous about it and excited all at the same time. A deacon. Sigh. Someday. That is my calling, to the best of my understanding. A deacon working at camp. ? Or at least a deacon working in the world.
Prayers for the world,
prayers for our leaders,
prayers for new students.
Peace,
your sister in Christ ~Erin
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