Last summer I babysat for a family who had a pool and Hannah went in the water everyday.  But that was last year and the memories have faded.  This summer we have had the opportunity to go swimming in our friend’s pool at least once a week and Hannah could not be more excited.  At the mere mention of the word “pool”, Hannah is packed and waiting by the door to go.  Isn’t that the way we are with camp?  Last year’s memories have started to fade and this year’s excitement is hard to contain!  Guess what else I learned at the pool today that I can compare to camp.

Hannah goes to the pool each week expecting the same things to happen.  She knows where the arm swimmies and the littlest inner tube are.  Hannah knows that I will be in the pool with her as well as her friends.  There is always splashing, other kids jumping, toys on the side, and the perfect floating lounge to take a rest on.  What Hannah doesn’t know is that every time she goes swimming, she leaves the pool with a new experience.  At first Hannah clung to me.  Then she floated by herself in a tube.  Last week she swam around the pool in arm swimmies by herself.  Today she went under water.  While Hannah comes expecting the same pool experience, I provide something new for her each time.

Many teens come to camp expecting the same camp experience.  They come knowing the routine, hang out with the same friends, and refuse to let God show them anything new.  Someone at camp last year remarked, “It’s Wednesday and there is always a service like this on Wednesday night.”  It makes my heart sad because that teen did not see the beauty of God transforming lives, they just saw people lining up in front of a microphone.

What if Hannah went to the pool thinking, “I know what I did last week and I am going to do the same thing this time”?  Or if she stayed in the arm swimmies, refusing to let me show her something new.  Her pool experience would get boring pretty quick.  What if we approached camp the same way?  What if you came to camp thinking, “I like these people from last year so there is no reason to talk to anyone else.”  Or  if you only sit in the back row of the Camp Center and say , “it’s Wednesday, I know what is going to happen.”

The fun thing about taking Hannah to the pool is that each time we are there, Hannah gets closer to swimming on her own.  Each new experience is helping her to grow and she is having a blast doing it.  This summer, let God show you something new at camp.  I pray that your camp experience would be unlike any you have ever had before.