Busy Season

After summer camp is over each year, I often get asked some form of this question: “Do you

get to take a breath now that camp is over?”

I often chuckle on the inside when I get asked this question. You see, while summer camp might be wrapping up and my job might be getting a bit more stable, my life outside of camp starts getting more hectic.

My weekends become quickly booked with out of town trips for weddings or to see family, my weeknights become booked with the various church ministries I take part in, and my job keeps me busy out on the ropes course or traveling to the various conferences that occur in autumn each year.

Sometimes I feel that my summer schedule, while busy and full of long days, is more consistent than the non-summer months.

I’m sure many people struggle with a similar situation in their own lives.

When does the busy season end?

One difficulty with being busy so much, is that sometimes we overlook all the blessings in our lives. We often times are so focused on looking forward to whatever is next, that we miss what is currently happening. We forget to live in the present as we are looking forward to the future.

Author Robert Holden wrote, “The real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present you become.”

Gratitude often times doesn’t take the form of outward thanks. It is a warm feeling or emotion felt inside that we express with intention and presence. In the craziness of our lives, let’s take time to find things happening around us that we are truly grateful for.

When we take that intentional time to be grateful, we will also become more present in the love of God that surrounds us. When we become more present, it is easier to see and feel the life-changing power of God, through the Holy Spirit, all around us. We give thanks and are grateful this season for all who continue to help make camp one of those special places where anyone and everyone can be present in God’s abundant love. “In everything give thanks,

for this is the will of God in

Christ Jesus concerning you.”

-1 Thessalonians 5:18

by Korey Breutzmann

Director of Programs