A few weeks ago I got an email asking people to pray for Glen Lake Camp and Retreat Center and the adjustments they’ve had to make during this pandemic. They asked us to not only pray, but to consider coming out to the camp to do a hike to the cross. We were already camping nearby on one of the weekends available, so I jumped at the chance to share some time at Glen Lake with my family.
This small amount of time at Glen Lake brought forth a lot of emotions. I can, hands down, say that without my time at the camp, I’d be somewhere else in life. When working at Glen Lake, my days had pointed purpose. My days there were incredibly distinctive.
The summers that we worked at camp, the staff shared a few common goals.
Create moments every day where kids could meet and know Jesus. (This takes both planning and preparedness...so that when plans askew you can adapt quickly.)
Look to the fringes, find ways to help kids know they belong - both as a child of God and at Glen Lake Camp.
Keep everyone safe while creating fun memories.
Day in and day out, with these goals at the forefront of all you do, it’s no surprise that a large percentage of staff go into vocational church work. You want to know WHY we chose ministry? We saw how important those common goals were, day in and day out, for hundreds of kids and families. For me, it’s also a big ole reminder of why spiritual disciplines are so important in our lives.
Reaching back into your memories, can you identify specific distinctive moments in your life? What made them stand out? Was it the people present during the moment? Was it the call you felt in your life? Was it your purpose during those moments?
Another lasting impact of Glen Lake focuses around Micah 6:8. You’ve probably heard me say it before, and you’ll very likely hear me say it again - it’s my most favorite verse. I spent many evenings at camp singing this verse in song and it etched a place in my heart.
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.”
I have this verse on display in my office and at home, so I can make these words of the Lord distinctive in my life. At the beginning of the pandemic, Glen Lake asked past worship leaders to record a song that they could post on social media. My friend Josh and I recorded Micah 6:8. It helped center and ground me as the world turned upside down.
Living in a pandemic is hard. We can’t control much, and we’ve had to adapt to new ways of doing things. I witness people fighting for every ounce of control they can grab - it isn’t pretty. What if we dug deep into our distinctive moments that helped us understand who God calls us to be and act? How can we keep those at the forefront of our hearts and minds, even in the uncertainty of the world today? We need reminders every now and then, and I’m thankful that Glen Lake is mine.
Written By: Abby Johnson
*If you’re interested in hearing the song, here’s the link - it begins about the 2:30 mark - https://www.facebook.com/glenlakecamp/videos/346580696284417/