So here I am, on Sunday night after a day of worshipping the Lord and having some social fellowship with young people's. And after a walk, supper and dessert we got talking about Camp Tamarack. A weeklong conference that has been hosted by our youth group for the last 20 years. What an incredible blessing it has been to so many! It's been a privilege and blessing to be able to devote myself wholeheartedly to this endeavour for the last 12 years. Anyways, we got to talking about videos from the past in particular - certain memories from talent nights gone past. Someone asked if I had any old videos and of course I spent no time waiting for a second invitation to pull out an old Tamarack DVD from 2007. We watched bits and pieces of the video as well as Talent Night. It was really fun to see many faces of friends from the past or even some of the many people I've met along the way. It was such fun to watch and laugh at the old skits that were just as funny as when we saw them back in the day. After finishing the video mostly everyone left except one dear friend who stayed behind to talk and hang out a little longer. We talked about many things including the old Tamarack days and I got to reminiscing about old times and while there were definitely a lot of fun moments, it also came with a lot of frustrating moments as well. I realize that as the people who organize camp change (as a person themselves or if they leave and new people join) that Tamarack must change as well. It's hard to have something that has impacted your whole life for the last twelve years, suddenly no longer be a part of your life. I poured my heart and soul into camp and I feel I reaped so many benefits because of my hard work and dedication through the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray for those who are now taking on the major planning roles at camp and I hope they can reap those same benefits.
Then as I drove my friend home, my mind suddenly started racing with thoughts of the future. How could I move past something that has impacted me so greatly? Am I supposed to just let it go? Is it the right time to leave something so great? What's the reason I'm leaving? After all, it's not like I'm married, (or even dating) so I must have some kind of free time on my hands, right? At least, that's what people seem to think.. The truth is, it's just time. Time to move on. While I love (and I mean L.O.V.E.) Tamarack wholeheartedly and it's gut wrenching to leave it behind, I know that the Lord will continue to bless it for many years to come. I can only hope that it will continue long enough for me to one day come back as a chaperone, or even send my own children to camp.
Back to the future... (Wait, is it 1985?)
Anyways, as I was saying I got thinking about the future. Ever since this end of this last Tamarack, I can't help but feel unsettled. Unsettled about what? I have no idea. What am I supposed to do know? Go back to school? Work abroad? Find a different job? Buy a new car? (Got in a car accident and my car isn't worth fixing). Move out of my parents home? So many thoughts and questions in my mind. As the future seems so uncertain I am again reminded of how the Lord provides. He has provided for 20 years of Tamarack and I have seen it first hand in so many different instances, from the weather, to the activities, the speakers, the campers, the camp staff and so much more. How then can I doubt that the Lord will not also provide for me? He is the Almighty, All-Powerful, All-Knowing Provider. I leave with these verses on my mind tonight taken from Luke 12.
"Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?
Luke 12:22-28
And from Philippians
"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Phil 4:19
'Til next time.
