United Church of Two Harbors

I believe in the transformative power of Church Camp. It's a great chance to lie big.

Let me explain.

As I was growing up there was a great camp that I'd go to every year and I got well known there. My younger brother, when he started, didn't just want to be known as my little brother, so we cooked up an alias for him. We gave him the last name of "Fisher" and he became just another person from my church. We look sufficiently different so that no one would suspect differently. For that week we were not brothers, but just friends.

And, the fact of the matter was, my brother and I needed to learn how to be friends. We were not always the most loving of siblings. So, it was kind of an experiment for us as well. There were no expectations that we should treat each other any certain way. Interestingly enough, the big lie gave Dan enough room to be himself and I started to appreciate him in a different way. My brother and I now, as adults, are fast friends, and part of it had to do with that week at camp.

And, while it's not usually so dramatic, I've seen kids try out new personalities and try new things at camp all the time. Because they are out of their normal context they get a chance to literally become new creations. And they lie big. "I'm not afraid of heights." "I'm a good artist." "I like to sing." "I like broccoli." "I can be friends with my brother." "I'm good at sports." The fun thing is how many of these "lies" turn out to be true. Camp gives them permission to transgress their own self-imposed boundaries in good and healthy ways. It's a tabula rosa on which new personalities can be written.

So, my hope for all of those who are going to camp this summer, youth and adults, is that you'll live out the the things you would hope were true about you, even if you suspect they aren't. Be open to the truth God is calling you to and live boldly in Christ.

See you at camp!

[ The picture is of the Oak Grove Presbyterian Church Youth Group at Presbyterian Clearwater Forest. ]