the good old summertime

Yes, my faith journey began with my family and the church I grew up in, but my faith began expanding the summer I was 8 years old.  Where did this happen?  Summer camp.

It has been 40 years since my first summer at Camp Glen Arden in Tuxedo, NC.  My first time away from my parents, my first time sharing a room, my first time of feeling a certain independence, and my first real experience with people from other denominations of faith.


This was not a church camp, but there were elements of faith everywhere.  Singing a blessing before each meal, fellowship amongst the campers and staff, the goodnight circle where the Lord's prayer was sung, a camp prayer, Sunday morning with a gathering of the camp where a thoughtful story/lesson was shared and the counselors made up a choir, and Sunday evenings with a vespers service of more music, scripture, and quotes.  And all of these taking place in God's creation of a beautiful camp setting.


Being in nature or in the woods still brings me peace and comfort to this day.  I go to the woods to pray and even more importantly, to listen.  A poem I wrote a few years ago may express this best:

I go to the woods to pray

to hear God's voice on the breeze,

and to feel the quiet and peace

that only nature can bring to my soul.

Months ago, along a prayer path

I tossed a stone into the water.

A stone on which I placed my

sadness, anger, fear,

frustration and disappointment.

As it sank, so did those limitations.

I was released, renewed, redeemed,

freed, and forgiven.

No stones today, not here.

Today I notice the ripples on the lake,

the breeze bringing good things towards me.

A light piece of wood, meant to float,

to travel on God's path.

Things to be gained and given to me,

hope, joy, patience, strength, and love.

All received through faith.

I go to the woods to pray

to feel rain trickle from the sky,

to know joy and be blessed as

God washes me anew.

Summer for me meant camp for many years as a camper and then the joy of giving back as a counselor.  There were many wonderful people who were part of this path in my life, but 2 stand out. 

Mary was the camp director for my first 6 years at CGA, a wonderful and giving lady who spoke so elegantly I can call her voice to my mind any time I wish.  Casey, became the camp director in 1980 and is another lady with an amazing soul; she watched me go from camper to counselor.  Both of these women brought joy, love, and faith to generations of young women.  I am blessed to be one of those 'GA girls'!

This summer I am spending it as a church intern, learning and growing.  I also in mid-August will return to my childhood home away from home, Camp Glen Arden, for a chance to be a camper again (even if only for a weekend).

I hope as you go through this summer, you have a chance to spend some time in nature, in prayer, in listening, and with memories of your childhood summers.