. . .We get wet!
These are words you will hear often at Rockmont. To put it another way: when it rains, we embrace it. So long as there is no lightning, we don’t let the rain stop us! Choosing to live to the fullest in every moment is what Rockmont is all about, especially when faced with adversity or an otherwise unpleasant situation.
In the past 48 hours, both the Hickory and Hemlock Tribes have played “Three Ball, Three Disc.” The game is simple: three games of soccer and three games of ultimate frisbee played all at once on a large field. I watched as nearly a hundred campers and counselors were running, slipping, sliding, and splashing in the mud; laughing all the while. I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen anyone have more fun at camp than the Deer Campers did in the rain. The magic of this moment was that not a single camper chose to sit out, but rather everyone was engaged in the moment, embracing the conditions, and, as a result, having the time of their lives.
It was joy in action.
James 1:2-3 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” One of my favorite writers and poets, Wendell Berry, put it this way: “Have joy, though you have considered all the facts.” All the facts might include rain, or mud, or maybe even homesickness. But the practice of looking for the good despite difficult circumstances is a virtue and one we hope to further at camp!
As insignificant as it may seem, a moment such as this teaches a valuable lesson to those involved. Staying inside and playing cards might have seemed like a more attractive option when the rain was pouring down outside, but they practiced persistence and got outside anyway. Just as birds don’t let the noise of the city stop them from singing, these campers did not the less-than-ideal weather stop them from playing their hearts out. This is reason to celebrate!
Here at Rockmont, we strive to look for the good, seek joy and get wet; and boy is it worth it!
Joyfully,
AJ Stewart
Deer Camp Director