Being the director of a summer camp six weeks each year is a wonderful way to spend my time off from teaching.  I know this applies to my wife, Sue, who is also a teacher during the regular school year.  She is with me at camp working as the arts and crafts instructor.  Naomi, our 19 year old, is a senior counselor and archery instructor, and this week, our 11 year old  daughter, Rose, is a camper.  She will be a camper again next week when two of her best friends from "down-state" come to northern Maine to spend a week here, too.

My favorite part of camp is always working with the staff.  Our counselors range in age from 18 to 25, and six of the eight are in Bible College / seminary somewhere in the Northeast.  Our counselors-in-training range from almost 15 to 17.  There is something so fun and inspiring about working with young adults who are on fire for the Lord.  They are all here pouring their hearts and souls into the lives of the kids who come to enjoy our camp.  Of course,leading a staff of teens and young adults means dealing with issues that don't usually come up with my primarily 50-something co-workers where I teach.  This year we have had to talk with an overly flirtatious CIT, a teen who was staying up late on her i-pod (which was supposed to be locked in the safe at night), a young man who was pushing the practical jokes too far, etc.  Pretty much a normal group of young adults.  

But these almost-non-issues pale in comparison to the benefits that come from their being on staff.  Naomi was up late into the night last night loving on a camper who was opening up about her dad's upcoming marriage to a woman the child doesn't care for.  A male counselor spent the earliest part of his day laundering wet sheets.   Some are volunteering their free time to help our maintenance man, Ray, with various chores.  Many are quick to dress up in zany outfits to make activities even more fun for the kids.  

Working with so many Bible college students sure keeps me on my toes.  I often feel uncomfortable around some of my coworkers at Christian school because I do not identify myself with the religious right as many (not all) of them do.  Here, it is quite the opposite.  These young people are free thinkers who will not be spoon fed by Pat Robertson on the right or Al Sharpton on the Christian left.  First and foremost, they love the God of the Bible and measure all ideas from a biblical worldview.  They don't always end up at the same place when they do this, but they can explain why they believe what they do, and more importantly, can work, fellowship and play together without differences coming between them.  They give me hope for the future of the church.