These past few months I have traveled as a summer camp youth speaker spanning anywhere from Oklahoma to Pennsylvania. I have met the coolest people, been exposed to some crazy events, and fell in love with hundreds of teenagers. As a way of going forward into a new semester I want to appreciate in reflection what just happened. As an attempt to avoid from writing too much I will be making a few posts as I share stories from my summer. To begin, I recall meeting a really cool kid in Butler, PA.
His appearance was very intimidating. He towered over everyone at 6’6” and 250+ pounds. I remember observing this behemoth of a man with an assuming eye. Someone of that stature had to be a bully. However, in a remarkable moment on Friday night the campers were huddled around a bonfire and students began to share significant moments from the past week. There were comments about spiritual “break throughs”, special counselors and, the bizarre games we played. Then, off in the corner, came a comment about that really tall bully looking kid and then another and another and another.
By the time the bonfire was over there were more than a handful of students that shared their appreciation in the spiritual guidance and encouragement that this student had given to them. Not just the speaker, or the band, or the counselors but a student, a peer and the most intimidating looking one at that. It was a testimony to how we are to look out for and care for one another. Sure, I was the speaker that week and I poured my soul and energy into each service but some of the most honest connections these students made came through this really big kid who befriended everyone.
Posted on
Mon, August 25, 2008
by Jake Edwards