JUST gonna LOVE it
Now that our coldest days are (hopefully) behind us and every sunny day above 30 degrees feels like a tropical vacation, I can’t help but start thinking about summer. And while there are many things to enjoy about summer – warm weather, the end of the school year, ice cream, and beach days – what I’m looking forward to most is camp!
After spending so much time cooped up inside this year, I can’t wait to stretch my legs and spend my days chasing after campers again. Field games have always been one of my favorite parts of Ox Lake, so I’m already thinking about what games we can play this summer to stay safe and active together. Everyone’s favorite game, Bubble Soccer, is definitely on the top of my list! And, of course, I also have to devote plenty of time to convincing campers that Gaga is superior to 9-square. As a washed-up water polo player and canoe battleship champion, I’m very excited to dip my toes and paddle back into the water of the Ox Lake. If everything goes according to plan, all of us will collapse into our bunks completely exhausted at night and fall asleep to dreams of low ropes courses and laser tag wins.
While summer is a great time to be active, it’s also a time to simply relax and spend time outside. As much as I love playing games, some of my best Ox Lake memories have happened while relaxing in hammock village with my cabins or stargazing at night. There’s nothing quite like being tucked under blankets, music playing softly in the background, and staring up at the sky. Even as a camper, this devo deeply resonated with me. There’s something about nature that brings peace, focus, and an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate God’s creation. This summer, I hope we spend as much time running around and playing games as we do quietly hiking the trails, laying in the sun, and staining our fingers during tie dye. I’m also happy for the opportunity that camp provides to disconnect for a while: no cell phone, no TV, no likes or comments or tweets or snapchats. While that disconnect can be intimidating, I’m looking forward to the deeper connections we can find with each other, nature, and God when we step away from the distractions and pressures of fast-paced society and reconnect with who we are and what’s truly important to us.
To that end, I can’t begin to explain how thrilled I am to explore this summer’s theme: Just Love. I know Bible studies aren’t everyone’s favorite camp activity, but Ox Lake wouldn’t be Ox Lake without our graces, worship, campfire talks, and devos. And it’s those parts that make Ox Lake home for me and so many other staff and campers, and what brings us back every summer! After the isolation we have all faced this year, I can’t tell you how electrifying it is to think about bringing campers back around the same campfire pit, trying to smack the same mosquitos, and singing the same worship songs. While this summer may look a bit different, I’m excited about all the new possibilities that come with the opportunity to build a completely unique camp experience and to welcome back new faces and old friends for another awesome summer at Ox Lake. I promise… you’re JUST gonna LOVE it.
Written by Steph Allen