camp snapshots...

“They said such mean things to me,” said the young man sitting across from me. At about 13, it’s so devastating when you are with a group of other guys your age and you get mocked and made fun of. Being called “gay”, or “girlie”, or “tubby” probably causes something inside of each of us to shudder.

We work hard, and I genuinely mean really hard, to help our cabin leaders recognize and stop bullying in their cabins. Each cabin has 8 campers of like ages, and you can imagine that being a breeding ground for a mean spirit at times. Our camper population is predominantly unchurched, “mid size urban”, and racially diverse. 

Most of the time cabins bond well and really come to enjoy each other during the week they stay with us. We work hard and intentionally to have that be the case. But sometimes, the bullying is not observed and dealt with and campers are deeply hurt and impacted. 

Jay was one of those campers. It brought me to tears listening to his story of only a few days at camp. He had decided to go home early and there was no changing his mind. He has been treated so poorly by a couple other young men in his cabin. Jokes about his weight, sexuality, and gender had followed him through school. He shared about hoping that it would be different at camp.

We, the full time staff, had hoped for the same thing.

I sat with Jay and our Executive Director as he tearfully shared. Though there would be a time to meet with the other campers, confront their words and actions, this was not the time. We would also need to discuss with cabin leaders how to be on guard for bullying scenarios, but it was also not time for that.

It was the time to be present with Jay.

To sit quietly and listen.

To empathise with all that was in us.

To value him and his vulnerable sharing.

I got to see Jay again a couple weeks ago at our Fall Mini Camp. He had done his correspondence Bible study lessons and earned a free weekend back at camp. And he wanted to come back.

I’ve pondered a lot since that weekend about the power of being present. Really listening and hearing. Making space for the fragile and vulnerable to be held.

Jay wanted to return to camp because he’d been loved and valued amidst the other hard.

This is our job. If you are reading this post you’ve perhaps read other things I’ve posted. You have the power and ability to “see” the teens, pre-teens, and young adults around you who are crying out with questions and confusion. The depression, suicidality, and anxiety are rampant for this young generation. Just look it up if you think I’m joking.

We are adults who can see, love, listen, and make space. If you are a follower of Jesus you walk around with the indwelling Holy Spirit to shine love out of your eyes. You are needed in the game, fully attentive, and engaged.

Position yourself in the lives of some teens or young adults. Have a soda. Buy an energy drink (even if you think you’d never drink one). Look around your spaces- church, work, neighbourhood, or family- and see where the Lord draws you.

He’s working and wants to invite us to work alongside of Him.

That’s your action step for today- look around and find a place where you can be proximate to teens and young adults. Be creative. Be intentional. Be determined.

We can get hung up on terms, pronouns, appearance, and the like.

Please don’t hear what I’m not saying. Is it good to think through whether or not you are comfortable using someone’s pronouns? YES.The words we use have implications and we should choose them intentionally.

In fact- I’d love to buy you coffee and discuss it if you’d like 🙂

But more importantly- can we be a safe, welcoming, loving presence in the lives around us? 

Can we position ourselves to be in front of teens and young adults that need a safe presence?