Recently, Andy Thornton, director of Retreat and Camping Ministries (so my husband's boss) and also of West River (so, my former boss) asked me, among others, to submit some words of wisdom to this year's staff there. I was quite delayed in getting it to him, but I thought I'd share it here as well, since it relates to some thoughts and discussions I've had in several settings recently, and since I hate that I haven't had time to post here more lately (I hope to get back on it). Here it is:
West River Staff
Devotion
By Sarah Andrews
Schlieckert
June 5, 2012
Recently, I’ve been thinking once again about the passage
from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount that had to do with worry. It was one of the
readings Chris and I had read at our wedding (I’ve done so many weddings that
the same old same old felt, well, like the same old same old). It was that
passage that came to mind as I led my Sunday School class this past
Sunday—we’ve been using videos from the I Am Second series, and as we watched
the testimony from baseball pitcher Clayton Cershaw, I couldn’t help but be
reminded that, as he says, you can’t try too hard to aim a pitch just like you
can’t try too hard to control the outcome of life—if you do, you’ll lose it
all.
Here’s the passage:
25
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or
what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more
than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air;
they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father
feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by
worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about
clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil
nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like
one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive
today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you
of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, "What will we eat?' or
"What will we drink?' or "What will we wear?' 32 For it is the
Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows
that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and
his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34
"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its
own. Today's trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:25-34,, NRSV)
I remember what it was like for me being on camp staff. Some
times were awesome and exhilarating. Other times, the details and risks and
to-do lists and all of it just seemed to fill my days. The politics of working
with people, the emotional energy of working with kids (and adults) who were
not having a good day (or week) and the constant-ness of it all was exhausting.
It was easy to get to a place of stress and stay there.
Camp is a unique lifestyle, especially during the summer
season. I don’t think anyone can really understand it unless they’ve lived it.
But you know what I’ve found? The rest of life isn’t all that different. The
intensity of the summer camp season may challenge the normalcy that most of us
face, but it’s probably one of the best trainings for life than anything else
out there. If you can find a way to not let the pace and drive of summer camp
control you and overtake your moments and days, then I think you have learned
well how to walk through life.
The summer I was at West River, there were tons of
experiences that I had which shaped me in ways that are still quite clear to
me. But I’m convinced that the greatest gift I received that summer was another
chance to hone my ability to not let the tides of life and busy-ness wash me away.
To decide each day that I was going to do my best, find times to center myself
and care for myself, and give to others not out of an exhausted spirit, but out
of a spirit filled with love and joy flowing from God.
These days, I face the same challenges each day. The stakes
and situations have changed somewhat, but the task is the same. And some days
are better than others. But I believe that the God who has created me and loves
me doesn’t want me to be miserable or exhausted or grumpy. And I am confident
the same is true for you and all of God’s children.
My husband has a quote by Chuck Swindoll he uses each week
with our campers at Manidokan—and it is one that has come to be important for
me as well (some days I really need it, for sure!). Here it is:
Attitude,
to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than
education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than
what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance,
giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.
The
remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will
embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact
that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The
only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our
attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I
react to it.
And
so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.
During my time at West River, I learned a lot about the
power of my attitude. I learned that my fear of heights was not more powerful
than my desire to not let that fear control me. So I took every chance I could
to work the high ropes. I learned that my view of people was not more powerful
than how God saw them and what God could do through them. And I made some
lifelong friends. I was reminded that each day was a new day—and that I needed
that new start as much as my fellow staff, the campers or the volunteers. I learned
to try harder to give everyone (including myself) another chance. I learned
that sometimes my greatest talents can be my biggest weaknesses if unchecked—so
I learned to receive criticism with humility but also not to lose my sense of
self-worth in the process. Most of all, I learned that it was up to me to
decide how I was going to use the days and week and months—whether to let all
the stresses and worries wash over me and sweep me under, or to see it all as a
wonderful adventure that would stretch me, pull me and push me as I continued
on my journey to becoming the person God has called me to be. And you know
what? There’s something pretty awesome about what God can make of us and all
our weaknesses and strengths when we’re willing to let go and see where God is
taking us.
My prayer for you is that each day you can reconnect with
the God who loves you and calls you to both glorify God but also to enjoy God
and all God’s blessings. It’s up to you. And the decision you make about
this—about your attitude—each day, will be the most powerful witness you will
offer to those who will come to West River this summer. It is from this
decision they will form ideas about whether it’s worth it to follow God or
whether it’s just another obligation with no up side. May God help you day by
day to walk into the new opportunities, challenges and joys ahead, excited to
see how God can use them to shape you, your campers, and the community of
Christ at West River.
