I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope. ~Jeremiah 29:11-14 (CEB)
I am ‘freshly’ returned from a week of serving as the Junior High Chaplain for the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas’ summer camp. It was a tremendous week working with campers and young adult staffers from all across Kansas and Missouri. This was my ninth summer in this role, having served since 2016 (minus the Covid years), and have now been around long enough to see campers I had in the early years come back to be counselors—and some of those high school campers from those years are now in significant leadership roles like Program or Camp Director! This year we had a number of new camp staffers, and all of them did a great job acclimating to this important ministry. It is really special to see young people grow more and more deeply into who God intends them to be… even if it’s starting to make me feel a little old.
The theme of our camp this year was In the Wilderness, and we spent time learning about how the wilderness is a special place to encounter God. In the wilderness we meet God and are shaped for God’s purposes and a life leading to God’s presence. The program was powerful and richly rewarding, and I learned just as much from it as the campers did (hopefully)! As we start a new week, I’d like to share an insight or two from the wilderness!
First of all, wilderness is not only a physical space in the world—such as the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas, where our camp has taken place for 90+ years—but can be a state of mind or disposition of the heart. There are times when we find ourselves in a place that is new, unexpected, startling, and even disorienting. In such times and places, we are called to remember that even in the wilderness God is present. Indeed, there is nowhere one can go where God isn’t. Finding ourselves in a wilderness, whether physical or spiritual or emotional, is an opportunity to draw closer to and develop deeper trust in God.
When we go into the wilderness and are open to encountering God there, we discover a renewed ability to see God at work in the whole of our life’s journey. We also come to learn that God’s intent for us, no matter how challenging the wilderness may be, is a life of peace. God does not intend disaster for us but rather helps us navigate all of our challenges. This help, discovered even in the midst of challenge, opens up the horizon of hope for a new future.
Let us embrace our work this week with an adventure mindset and let’s get into the wild. Have a great week!
The Next Step: how has time in the wilderness shaped you for God’s mission of mercy and healing?
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