I remember the first summer that my oldest son went to camp. I was feeling super confident as I said goodbye, thinking that as a camp director myself I had all the bases covered. He was five, very excited and super prepared for all the fun and adventure that camp would provide.
I felt that he had EVERYTHING he would need for camp, and some to share in the event that someone else had forgotten a flashlight, poncho or bandana for square dance. I had packed one outfit for every day in a ziploc bag to make life “easier” for my camper and his counselor. I even had him help me pack and pick things out so he would know exactly where everything was when he got to camp.
Then I saw the pictures and reality set in…I had no control of the choices my child was making at camp. His socks didn’t match, he wore the same shirt for three days and he rocked a permanent bed-head all week. On most days, I could tell what he had for lunch by the ketchup or peanut butter smudged smile on his face! And forget about that cute western outfit I packed for square dance, he wore basketball shorts and a Star Wars t-shirt! As a mom, I was horrified…as a camp director, I was over the moon!
Maybe many of you have been scouring the photos of the past 6 days and feeling the same way. I understand, and I want to assure you that things are not always as they appear to be. You see, at camp…we don’t worry about matching clothes or bad hair days. We rarely see the smudged food on the faces of others, not because we don’t care but because we are heart seekers. We care more about what’s going on inside than the situation on the outside. Trust me, I’ve seen some serious situations on the outside, but the growth I’m seeing on the inside is so awesome! The joy that these kids are feeling at camp is truly indescribable. The pictures just don’t give you the whole picture of the amazing growth and joy that your children are experiencing.
Speaking of joy, tonight’s Talent Show…AMAZING! We have been celebrating holidays in July this week, starting with our 4th of July celebration. Tonight our Talent Show was holiday themed, and there were so many creative and wonderful acts. Cabin 3 did a glow in the dark Jingle Bell Rock. The CITs blew us away with their 12 Days of Camp-Mas. We had the Grinch and the whoville chorus too. There were solo dance routines, piano performances, skits, tricks and cabin choreographed ensembles. I was blown away with the talent and courage of our campers, but more importantly, I was so grateful for the support and love of the audience. Every single act received cheers, whistles, yells and even standing ovations for their performances. The love of our camp family is overwhelming, and I know that every single performer walked off stage with pride from the incredible support from their friends!
No, it’s not about the performance,or the outside appearances…here it’s about the heart…and the heart of Highlander is love!