Encouragement

Encouragement

En-cour-age-ment: something that makes someone more determined, hopeful, or confident.

Synonym: motivation, fuel, spark, catalyst.

When I was in high school my youth group did this class on what our "spiritual love languages" were. I had never heard of this concept and at first thought that it was one of those ideas that someone came up with that had no meaning to us in real life. Normally this lesson was used for marriages but we learned that really, if you are in a relationship with anyone it is important to know what love language the other person is so you know how to be effective in your communication of feelings, along with knowing which love language you respond to best.

To break it down simple. There are five categories. Everyone has two languages; one they receive with and one they give with.

1) Acts of Service - this is when you either like to do things for others or like to have them done for you without having to ask like taking out the trash for a friend of coming and mowing someone's yard when they are sick.

2) Receiving Gifts - Some people find joy in receiving things or giving presents to others to see the joy that it brings them.

3) Quality Time - some people just like to be with someone else. They find joy in either just hanging out with someone or having someone just hangout with them. Nothing too fancy.

4) Physical Touch - Now before you label yourself this one its not what it sounds like. Sometimes people just need a hug or like to give hugs. A pat on the back. A thank-you handshake. Etc

5) Words of Affirmation - Some people have a keen talent for telling people when they are successful or by saying uplifting things, and others prefer to hear positivism when they complete a task.

Do you know which one you are? http://www.5lovelanguages.com/profile/singles/

I took the quiz and was not surprised with my answer assuming my life. I highly, above all the others with many more points, scored that I am a Words of Affirmation kind of guy. This is 100% true. I would rather have a "good job" than a present any day.

It is ironic that I took this quiz this week. Recently I have felt a little unappreciated in some areas. It is hard to give your 100% to something when, if you are a person like me, you wait for praise and receive a "see you later." I sat there after I took the quiz and thought of the encouragement I have received this week and all the feelings of being unappreciated have gone out the window. 

My best friend told me, "youre doing great man and I am proud of you."

My roommate said, "I appreciate all that you do and youre a great roommate."

A close friend expressed, "I have an awesome purpose and I dont realize the lives that I touch every week."

At my other job, my boss said "we couldnt do it without you."

And today was the icing on the cake. A close friend that I spend a lot of time with, and a lot more in the recent weeks, pulled me aside because he felt convicted to tell me something. When he started I saw a little teary-eyed-ness forming so I knew my water works were being turned on. He said, "you know man, I was talking about it with (another person) this week and I just have to tell you. I know that you receive a lot of flack all the time for little crap and it frustrates me to know that you are unappreciated. In fact, you are the most unappreciated person that I know and thats not a lie just to make you feel better. I just want you to know, that everything that you do doesn't go unnoticed and I am very proud at how far you have come and the person you are becoming, because I appreciate you. I know its hard to not really hear it all the time, but I love you and I think youre an awesome person, and one of the few real disciples that I know. And I look up to you in a lot of ways."

Yes. I cried. Because it was nice. And it meant a lot to me. And was the fire, spark, catalyst, motivation, encouragement that I needed presently. Not that I am feeling down or to make anyone worry that I am sad. Quite the contrary. I am the happiest I have been....in a very, very long time. 

And days like today make it all worth it. And make me strive to be the best that I can be. And to not lose hope. The struggle may happen but the search for happiness is real. And I think that I have broken the ice to the long journey ahead and am making swift moves to be happy.

All that being said, take time this week to let someone know how much you care about them. How much you love them. And to be an encouragement and not a counter-incentive.

A kind word can go a long ways.

Peace Out. 

Plagued But Perfect.

This week has been...well...a plague of problems.

Ill list them to you as I did at my near breaking point last night.

1. The icemaker broke - who knows why. All that I know is I had my hand trying to break the ice that was clogged up and a rather sharp ice-pick stabbed my hand. Blood. Bandaids.
2. The loud a/c - In the dining hall we have two air conditioners. We have the "quiet a/c" and then we have the "loud a/c." They are rightfully named based off of their performance. The loud one puts off a blast of air. Well it froze up.
3. The monthly problem - I have one word-->females times about 5 campers
4. The attack of the killer bees - OKAY so they were not killer but about eight of the campers rudely aroused a nest of bees that was hiding under their play area. As Chris called the queen, "beyonce," was quickly killed by Joey's gasoline tank. Benadryl was my friend this week.
5. The Poop - yes. It happened again. The boys dorm wasn't draining properly. Shovels, sweat, and later back pain was/is present. Thankfully our plumber friend was able to fix the problem without having to close the camp. I have NEVER been more excited for...well...that kind of flow in my entire life. 
6. The tired children - enough said.

I will not lie when I questioned why I was working here while knee deep in God only knows what.

Until tonight.

It is pouring down raining here and I am thankful for the relaxing sound. The rain drops falling on the roof and the free car wash. 

As everyone knows Thursday night is the last night at camp and thats when the music is awesome, the preaching is it's best, and the campfire is tear jerking. With the rain deciding to make its debut, we had to do campfire in the multi-purpose building (in the words of Lily it is the Murphy Burpess Building). I was bummed at first but then was completely content. The rather talented Dave McCants got up and started playing the Father Of Lights song that I believe every camper has at least heard since Myrtle was still frying the bacon. The song hit me kind of hard when I heard the kids echoing after Dave. The song is an echo song where he says the lines and they repeat it and then everyone joins in at the chorus. 

Father of Lights

You delight,

In your children.

Father of Lights

You delight,

In your children.

Every good and perfect gift,

comes from You.

Every good and perfect gift, 

comes from You.

Father of lights,

You never change,

You have no turning,

Father of lights,

You never change,

You have no turning.

Every good and perfect gift,

comes from You.

Every good and perfect gift,

comes from You.

While I sang the words and looked out to all of the children singing a wave of emotions came over me (which has become kind of normal). I couldn't help but to look around and see all the children individually for just a second. Here, take a look for yourself...

The ones that were super popular this week that had all of the friends and all of the staff loved to be around...perfect. 

The ones that were a little different by being reserved and quiet yet still minding their manners and being polite...perfect. 

The ones that were mischievous and constantly in trouble having to pick up sticks...perfect. 

The few who were born with a few perfect imperfections and needed a little extra love...perfect gift. 

The counselors who had their pasts and still decided to give their time and energy to being at camp...perfect. 

The camp staff who were/are tired, frustrated, yet still standing there singing in unison with the campers we have so desperately poured into as much as we could this week...perfect.

Myself, who is tired, emotional, not perfect in decision making, is still perfect in the eyes of my creator.

All of this being said...I love my job. I get to have a chance at loving on God's perfect gifts week after week. They frustrate me. They smell funny at times. They drop their plates on the floor and spill their drinks all over the place. They're perfect.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."  James 1:17

Through A Child's Mouth

It is Tuesday night.

Really?

I was really hoping that my phone would say Wednesday or even Thursday.

But I wouldnt trade some of these memories for anything.

Two children that are here have left an impression on my heart that I am grateful for and humbled by.

The first is a little boy that I just met this week. Being the meds giver this summer I see him quite frequently. He takes a lot of medicine. A LOT. I am not even sure how one person with the tiny body frame that he has can process all of those pills. I struggle with the occasional tums much less these horse pills. He does not say much, or anything for that matter. When everyone is marching to the beat of the "normal" drum his is playing a little off in the background. Different is what a lot of people have labeled him as. After talking with him I would like to say that a little bit of love can go a long way. See, with this guy a group announcement of instructions and expectations of remembering a full day is out of the question. With 115 campers I can understand it can get frustrating. I take my meals and nights when I could be in my room to make sure that he is making it and that noone is giving him a hard time. 

Yesterday was the first day that we got mail for the campers and passed it out. I looked over from my table and saw his face slowly sink when his name was not called. While the rest of the campers were being dismissed I intentionally kept him a little extra in giving him his third dose for the day so I could make sure he was ok. I said, "hey buddy, why do you look so sad?"

His response, "my mom said she would send me a letter on Monday. Today is Monday and my name did not get called." The tears were forming. You see, with kids of his kind you cannot promise something and not follow through. You also cannot alter the schedule without proper explanation or the meltdown is soon to come. I sat down in my chair and looked him in the face very calmly and asked him did he need a hug. His shy "yes" and slowly raising arms to welcome a little affection is all he needed. We stood up and I hugged him for a solid five minutes. 

When he let go and stopped crying he looked at me and said, "I think I can make it until Tuesday. Thanks."

Heart. Is. Melted. All he needed was a little extra love. A little extra something that the other children do not need. Time and Compassion.

So now that I know he just wants/needs a little extra, I have been following him around periodically to make sure he is doing ok. When I catch him around, that smile makes it all worth it. That welcoming "pepsi and kit-kat" reassures me that if I do not impact anyone this summer except him, that I did something spectacular. 

Because he is spectacular. With all of his quirks and needs, he is wonderfully and beautifully made. Put into this world with a purpose and without regret. Because he is beautiful. 

We will call him my "Extra Friend"

Now onto the second. This one hurts. My everything.

It was brought to my attention that someone needed me to talk to them. One kid that I have known for years. We dont talk that much. A simple hello is normally all that we get to exchange. I sense the respect he has for me and I appreciate it. A talk is the least that I could give him. 

He lost someone very special to him. Someone that was his world. His idol. His dad. My heart breaks continuously for him everytime I see him in the dorm or in the lunch line because I know behind that smile and those excited eyes is a little bit of hurt. A little bit of pain. A little bit of anger. And a little bit of questions that cannot be answered like....why?

I saw him lying on the bench instead of going to class, I rode on my white stallion...or busted up used green golf cart that clunked all the way there. I told him to get on. He reluctantly agreed and we rode around for a little bit. I pulled behind the camp managers house where we sat next to the river. I could feel it. All of the little bits of this and that just hit me like a lightening bolt with the deep sigh that came out of his mouth. This is how our conversation went.

Me: "you ok?"

Him: "ya..."

Me: "you sure?"

Him: "No"

Me: "what are you thinking"

His response that will be forever with me:

"that I know that she sent u to talk to me. but. Its ok. I want to talk to you. Because it is nice that someone else besides her wants to talk. I appreciate her trying to help but sometimes I just dont want to say anything. I just want to think. And im just angry. And upset. And I dont understand why. But God does and I will be ok. I just have to take it one day at a time."

Wow. He asked to sit and just be still, and we did. We both sat there and watched the waves in the river. We felt the breeze and the warming sunshine. But what I felt, other than the tears on my face and the agonizing choking feeling in my throat (the kind when the good cry is coming), was peace. With all that has happened to him in the past few months, with all the noise of camp, with all the children always wanting to be all up in your/his face, he just needed peace. I needed peace. And it took a 10ish year old to show me that. 

So we sat for about twenty minutes until he said he thought we could go to class.

We will call him "Hurting but Healing Friend"

And for a second I could sense the Holy Spirit telling me that I was in the right place. That I was doing the right things. And that He was with me. And with my little friend. That everything was going to be okay in my life and that all the things that I do wrong that I am letting go of and the good things that I am re-learning how to do daily was happening. That I was changing. 

And for him, He was with him as well. 

Amen.

My heart is full. And it is only foward from here from now on.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16.33

Refreshing

So as everyone knows there is a tropical depression. 

Now some kids we have had this summer I jokingly call them "Hurricane ____" meaning everywhere they go they leave something behind whether it be trash, explosion, little chuckle of laughter, or just a memory. 

Some have been category 5's.

For real.

With the future forecast the camp has decided to close a day early...well just 16 hours early.

Mixed emotions.

I am happy because maybe I will get to sleep in or relax on a Friday as apposed to cleaning the camp then rushing home to work at my other job and then go home and spend time with my pets. Yet I am also sad because that is just a little bit of time lost. A little bit of time where a decision can be made or someone can have that last cry and spiritual high on Thursday night before they go home that is historic here at RCC. 

But, I also know that we are just planting seeds and that when the kids ride out of our gates, they will be continually feeling His presence and choose to make decisions on their own time.Hopefully this is just the start because I believe that He can move even on Friday nights when we all go home and lay our heads on our own pillows. I pray that each teen here goes home and remembers that "forever the hope in our hearts: and they will continually become transformed.

Next week we have 100+ pre-registered.

So I am counting my blessings that I have an extra day to prepare to come in contact with the most kids yet this summer. 

That I clear my mind and come back refreshed.

That I come back patient as all get out.

That the staff is rejuvenated.

That we dont crack by Tuesday night.

That stupid things that happen wont bother us like this week.

And we come back ready to continue to do His work, in the lives of his most precious gifts.

Night