Gifts from God

Having been raised in a church, I am relatively familiar with many different hymns.  As such, I oftentimes find myself just singing the words and forget to really praise God with them or allow them to convict me.  However, I was convicted while singing the song "Make Me a Blessing" at a service during Holy Week (the week before Easter).  Here is the refrain:

Make me a blessing,

Make me a blessing,

Out of my life

out of my life

May Jesus shine;

Make me a blessing, O savior, I pray,

I pray Thee, my Savior,

Make me a blessing to someone today.

But what exactly does being a blessing mean?  The first few definitions from Dictionary.com say that a blessing is:

noun

1.the act or words of a person who blesses.

2.a special favor, mercy, or benefit:

the blessings of liberty.

3.a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness.

Okay, so definition 1 is not much help.  But what about number 2?  It seems to shine a new light upon what we're asking God to do when we sing the song.  We are asking God to make us a benefit to someone else.  If we continue reading to definition 3 we see that a blessing is a gift given by God.  

Now as I sang this song during Holy Week, I wondered if I really wanted to be singing the song!  Did I really want God to use me as a gift to somebody else?  Quite simply, the answer was no!  (Please recall my blog about those weeks and what I said about being at the service just to be there, not to grow in Christ.  Read that post here.)  I was not at the service for the right reasons.  I just wanted to go to the service, leave and work on my to do list.  My heart was not in the right place and I wanted to be selfish with my time.  Upon this realization during the service, I began to pray that God would move my heart so that I would want to be a blessing.  I still have a long way to go.  Today, when my church say that song again, I sang it wholeheartedly, truly wanting God to use me.  I hope that today God used me as a blessing to someone.  I hope that God continues using me as a blessing.  Some days I am not so willing, but I know on those days God will be gracious, patient, and loving with his flawed daughter.

Do you want to be a gift from God today?

Living in Reckless Abandonment for Jesucristo, 
Jo

Beauty

Do you see the trees?

Do you see the pretty trees?

I see the green trees.

I have a friend who is color blind who came up with this haiku as we were walking through the woods.    He informed me that sometimes he feels that he can't fully appreciate the beauty in nature because he can't differentiate the colors, but at the same time he feels that he is experiencing more beauty because he is seeing the nature in a way that nobody else sees it.  

This conversation made me begin to think about the definition of beauty.  When speaking about humans, most cultures have their own definition of beauty.  Americans find facial symmetry attractive unless it is 100% symmetrical, we also find tanned skin attractive.  Other cultures try to maintain pale skin tones as a form of beauty.  Yet other cultures stretch their necks gradually with metal rings to be considered beautiful. 

 Dictionary.com says that beauty is 

"The quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind,whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest)."

Basically beauty is a matter of opinion.  Beauty is what you want it to be.  Beauty is God's creation.  No matter what you look like, you are a creation of the one true God.  He made you just the way you are.  You are beautiful.  The world around you is beautiful.  The people around you are beautiful.  See the beauty in the world today the way that you want to see it, but make sure that you see it.

Wonderfully Whacky Stupendously Strange Staff

As I have mentioned for a few blog posts, I work at a summer camp.  I really do love my job and I have told everyone why.  One of the reasons why I love my job was "Staff Friends," which I would like to elaborate on in this post (Plus, I asked one of the staffers for a title of a blog and am writing from the title that I was given).

As humans we crave time with other humans.  We are designed by God in this way.  Remember in Genesis, after God created Adam he realized that Adam shouldn't be alone, and so Eve was made.  Because of this, we all need friends.  We are to depend on God, but God wants us to have fellowship with other humans, especially other followers of Christ.  We are called to be one body.  We are called to serve God by working together with others. 

I am part of camp staff.  I am part of something bigger than myself.  This year, our program director has repeatedly reiterated that we are all a team.  We are all buddies that should be looking out for each other.  Not only should camp staff look out for each other, Christians should look out for each other.  We should help each other when we see each other struggling.  I am a follower of Christ.  I am part of something much bigger than myself.  All around the world, I have a family that is known as the body of Christ and I know that we can all depend on each other through prayer, faith, and fellowship.

As you rush through life with a smile pasted onto your face, remember that you are surrounded by people who are your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Remember that you have the Holy Spirit with you.  Remember that God wants you to depend on Him and on other humans.  Remember.

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Romans 12:4-5

At camp, even as an area director in charge of an area I depend on the people in my area and the other people in other areas for camp to run smoothly.  In the same way, we need to work together as one body in Christ.  Use your gifts.  Share your talents.  Amaze yourself at the wonders you can achieve with the rest of the members in the body of Christ.

Elimination

2 Versions of a Story:

First Version:

On Wednesday nights, most of the staff has their night off from camp.  We all do pretty much the same thing: eat out, go to Walmart, and possibly head to a drive-in movie.  This past week, a large group of us decided to go to a drive-in.  Upon arrival, we decided to toss a football around.  However, we decided to play it in the form of the game, so that if someone missed a catch to them, that person was out.  This game has become fairly common with staff around camp this year, so we all know the rules and call this game "Elimination."  Upon the first throw, one of my coworkers/friends turned around to catch the ball and ran straight into a pole with his face.  As I was closest to him, I reached him first to see that he had a cut above his eye, a cut below his eye and a scratch down his cheek.  

I proceeded to run for ice, antiseptic wipes, band-aids, and butterfly bandages from the concession stand.  After wiping everything out and applying the butterfly bandage onto cut located on his forehead, we sent him back to the camp to get checked out by the nurse to verify that he didn't have a concussion.  It turns out that he had a mild concussion, but was going to be alright.

Second Version:

While hanging out with us in Indiana, my friend/coworker saw a bear that charged at him and mauled his face, resulting in a cut above his eye, below his eye, a scratch down his cheek, and a mild concussion.  We were all very concerned as his cheek remained swollen for the following day.  

Now, one of these stories is what happened to me this past Wednesday.  I will let you choose which is true and which is what we told the campers.

Obviously, some of the campers thought that a bear attacking my friend in the middle of Indiana was a bit far-fetched.  However it was quite a bit of fun to convince them that this is what had occurred.  It should be fairly clear which of these stories is what really happened.  That being said, what enables us to deduce truth from lies?  

I believe that studying the truth and knowing that the probability of running into a bear in Indiana is relatively low is what allows us to do so.  This is also true of other situations like this one.  Knowing the truth enables us to identify the lies.  As such, we should study the truth.  I do not necessarily mean beg people to tell the truth.  I mean that we should study the Bible, as it is the truth and the Word of God.

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

John 17:17

In studying what is true, we will know when there are lies being fed to us.  Have you studied the truth today?

Friend Following

Here is another of my Peer Tutoring Journals from the previous school year.  The following story was written as a result to a prompt and may or may not be base on actual events.  I will allow you to decide yourself.

My friends and I shrieked with laughter as we walked through the aisles of Walmart.  We compared prices briefly, selected the "necessary" items and headed to the checkout with our arms stuffed full of toilet paper.It was the night we had been planning on for weeks.  One of my school's teachers was going to wake up to a surprise the next morning.

The funniest part about this whole situation was probably not the fact I was going teepeeing.  It was the fact that I had never even had the teacher that my friends had selected.  Why did I even want to go?  Probably, and I know this is cliché, because "everyone else was doing it."

I have noticed that this is something that is said quite frequently.  As students we face many temptations, especially when we are "hanging out" with our friends.  Most of us just want to fit in and have friends; however, sometimes this comes with a price.  Most of the time everyone around us is taking part in the same activity making us want to do the same.  Because of this, I think that dealing with loneliness is a huge problem.  Many people are never taught how to handle feeling lonely, and it can be very painful.  Humans are designed to be with other people (This goes back to the creation of Eve as a companion to Adam in the Garden of Eden), so when we feel lonely it creates a void in our lives.  Most of us will do anything to fill this void. Become physically intimate with someone. Take drugs.  Drink alcohol.  Choose a popular career choice.  Say degrading things about themselves to get people to notice them.

This is a huge problem, because everyone does it, not just teenagers.  With adults it can be different activities, but they're still pressured into doing it by their peers.  If we can teach people that it's okay to walk away from a situation that would help tremendously.  If we can show people that there are other people who will still like them for who they are, it would be incredible.  But above everything else, if the world would learn to accept people for themselves, that would solve many problems.

Camp

This summer, I am working at a Boy Scout camp.  This is the second year that I have worked at this camp and I absolutely love my job.  Now, I know some people may be trying to figure this out.  I am a girl that works at a boy scout camp.  Yes, that can happen.  No, I am no the only one.  Females are in the minority, but we do exist in the BSA.

I am working as the pool director this year.  Basically I teach classes in the morning and I lifeguard open swims in the afternoons and evenings and make sure that the other pool staff is doing the same thing while we also keep the pool and the pool house locker rooms clean.  This past week has been exhausting. Camp is always exhausting, it doesn't matter if you are a camper, an adult leader, or a staff member.  Going to camp is tiring.

Over the weekend, I had to unclog a toilet that had been clogged intentionally.  (Earlier this week it had had a sock in it.)  I had to pick up boys underwear and socks from a locker room floor.  I pulled trash that was floating in a trash can that had been outside in the rain. I cleaned out the bag from the pool vacuum (if you've never done this for an outdoor pool, trust me when I say it gets pretty gross). This week, I had a scout refuse to get into the pool for class, so he couldn't achieve any of the requirements the merit badge class he was in.  I also cleaned out a funky-smelling refrigerator that is used by the staff members..

I really do love my job, but I sometimes I have to ask myself why, so here is the list that I came with upon reevaluation:

1.) I love kids.
          They're hilarious.  You never know what is going to come out of their mouths.
2.) My boss is a perfectionist.
          This may not sound like a positive aspect to a job.  In fact, it probably sounds like a major pain in the neck, but it isn't.  My boss motivates me and the rest of the staff to strive toward perfection and do our best no matter what the job is.  This will help us in jobs in the future, as we move on past working at camp.
3.) I love kids.
          They watch everything adults do and mimic it.  The wide variety of personalities that the boys display in the classes that I teach makes me think about Psychology and what causes people to act the way they do.  4.)  I love to swim.
          I have the opportunity to wake up at 5:30 every morning and swim a mile if the pool isn't too crowded!  Call me weird, but that is just fantastic.  It is great stress relief and provides me with time to contemplate without having to sit still.
5.)   I love kids.
         The way their swimming improves over just one week of classes is spectacular and reminds me of how malleable they are.  Every little thing matters.
6.)  I'm certified.
        Working as a lifeguard means I've been trained in CPR and basic first aid, making me feel more prepared for emergency situations.
7.)  It's a challenge.
         I love a good puzzle. AP Calculus was my favorite class this past year.  Why?  It gets my brain working.  Sometimes, when I am trying to explain a concept to a camper that is new, he doesn't get it right away and it is a challenge for him to get it.  In these times, it's like a puzzle for me to figure out how to explain the concept in a way that he will understand it.
8.)  I love kids.
        (There might be a theme in this list.)
9.)  It's hard work.
         This is another point that may seem somewhat odd, but it really isn't.  By working hard now, I'm learning how hard life will be later.  I've never heard an adult say that they were happy about how easy a class or chore or job was when they were young.  Rather, I hear gratitude about the difficult tasks, as those tasks prepared them for later in life.
10.) I love kids.
11.)  Sponge Wars.
        Picture dodge ball except with wet sponges instead of balls.  And picture Staff Vs. Campers.  And picture my face with war paint.  And other staffers dressed up (In chicken suits, camouflage, cheerleader outfits, etc)   Yeah.  It's epic.
12.) I lovekids.
13.)  Staff Friends.
         Both years I have met new people who have been awesome.  We all experience things together for six weeks and it's pretty incredible.  We become close enough to trust each other and prank each other.  We work together and we play in Sponge Wars together.  We express frustrations about campers and life to each other.  We aren't just coworkers.  We're friends.
14.) I lovekids.
         Seriously, I want to be a pediatrician.  Children tend to be more forgiving, more gracious and happier than most adults I meet.  They have a more positive outlook on life, and it is uplifting.  Most of them are always willing to laugh.  Most of them have a way of brightening a room when they come in.
15.)  It's fun.
        It's fun to get to know the campers.  It's fun to work with fellow staff.  It's fun to teach the classes.  It's fun to swim a mile.  It's fun to stay up late talking a playing card games with staff.

At camp, it's tiring.  I'm exhausted.  At camp, it's fun.  I have had fun.   At camp, it's crazy.  A good crazy.  At camp, I can work hard.  At camp I can be a big kid.  At camp, I can enjoy almost every minute.

Not only can I thank God for giving me a job, I can thank Him for giving me a job that I love!  If you've had a rough day, I highly recommend making a list of your blessings.  If you can't think of anything, start with the fact that you woke up, then maybe move onto the periodic table of elements (everything in the entire universe is made of of them).  Don't be like the Israelites who wandered in the desert and forgot the blessings that God had given them.  Choose to Praise God for what you have instead of dwelling on what you don't have. :)  After all, you're breathing, aren't you?

Living in Reckless Abandonment for Jesucristo, 
Jo




       

Comfort

Some people, like me, could spend their entire lives sitting in a corner with a blanket, a cup of tea and a good book.  However, living a life like that would have little to no excitement.  There would be not rush, no thrilling moments, and no good memories to look back on.  Living a life that is completely flat lined, it would definitely be comfortable.  But is comfort what humans legitimately strive for? We may say that we just want a "normal" live, but that is not what our actions show.  We have extreme sports, roller coasters, and exotic vacations telling us that new things, or things outside of our comfort zone, are fun.

There are a few of us who legitimately strive for "normalcy." A life inside our area of amenities.  However, we tend to also feel the need to fit in (so that we don't feel lonely).  Because of this desire, we still do exciting things to feel a rush.

But, in the end, getting out of our comfort zones can be a very good thing.  When I look at the Bible stories taught to me throughout me life, I don't see a single one where God said "Oh, why yes, I understand you don't feel comfortable doing this.  Sure, you don't need to serve me in this way."  On the contrary, God called people in areas that were not in their comfort zone.  He called them to do things that they were bad at.  Why?  Because if you are weak in an area, you will depend on Him and others will see His strength in you.  As such, let God use your weaknesses.  Get out of your comfort zone.  God will do great things.

Living in Reckless Abandonment for Jesucristo, 
Jo