It’s funny how memories can be brought back by sights, sounds, and smells.  I opened the door this morning to let the dog out and saw this beautiful view.

I stood on the porch for a few minutes to listen to the birds sing their morning chorus.  The air was clean and cool with just a whisper of dew still hanging on the breeze.  There was something nostalgic about the mist hanging over the mountains.  Immediately, I realized what this made me think of — church camp mornings!  Back in Kentucky I spent at least one week every summer at Camp Calvary.  It was the highlight of my break and something that helped to shape me in ways I never knew until I grew up.  The adults from local churches volunteered their time and testimony to make sure that children knew about Christ.

Church camp was one of the best experiences I enjoyed as a child.  My aunt or grandmother (sometimes both) dropped me off on Sunday afternoon and helped me  get my bunk set up.  Since I didn’t live in the area, I didn’t see those camp friends often, but we reconnected every summer.  Each evening we had a Vespers service in the woods and a campfire just before bed.  In the early mornings, we woke up to get ready for breakfast.  As we walked to the dining hall from the dorm room, the air felt like it does this morning so many decades later.  In the air was that hint of anticipation for a beautiful day, as well as a call to remember God in my actions and words all day long.  We went to a few Sunday-school type classes and enjoyed some recreation time, too.  Lunch was always fun because we had “mail call.”  My aunt and grandmother never failed to send me a postcard or letter.  More often, they sent many that would have notes or something on the outside.  When the counselors called my name, they read the notes from my grandmother and tormented me about whatever it said.  It was all in good fun!  We always got to spend time with a missionary from Africa or a college group that came to lead worship for us.  During one summer, we learned about Milligan College.  That impacted me so much that I eventually went to college there!  I was also baptized into Christ just after a church week.  I learned life lessons that have stayed with me for all this time.  I’m so grateful for those days I was able to spend at camp each summer.

This morning, I lifted up a prayer of thanks to all of those who served at Camp Calvary.  I remembered their gift when I opened the door this morning.