A few weeks ago I helped out at Camp Neotez, in the booming metropolis of De Soto, MO. It was during this week that I saw God move. It reminded me of this scene in "The Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian"
If you remember, her brothers and sister thought that Lucy was crazy when she claimed to see Aslan. Now, I don't think it's crazy, as I stated before, that it is possible to see God. However, if you ever see a talking giant lion, please seek medical attention.
So the week at Neotez was around the theme of STORY. We looked at the idea that the Bible could be seen as more than just a fact book making sure that we check off all the appropriate boxes...but that it could be read as a story, a very complex story where hundreds of intersecting stories intertwine revealing this beautiful narrative of a God redeeming his creation.
The cool thing about that story is that it doesn't end with the last AMEN in Revelation. It continues...jumping out of our leather bound Bibles and into OUR world. We are a part of God's story and God is still a part of ours! He is still moving, in, around and through us, to make his name known.
Back to Neotez...church camp anywhere is pretty typical. Five hot days in the summer (I got to experience the 2nd hottest day in the last 50 years in Missouri during my week which also was the 4th hottest day on record) at some remote location doing Bible study and crazy activities. The directors had a plan to peek spiritually Friday and then go home on Saturday morning.
Monday and Tuesday were going according to plan, but Wednesday is when God showed himself. The Bible teachers had taught 3 lessons and were concerned with whether or not the teens were 'getting' it. "Do they really see that they have a part to play...a story to tell?" We didn't know.
In comes a camp visitor, who after hanging around all afternoon speaks to the directors about a friend of hers in the Czech Repbulic. That evening this visitor tells her story and how her story connects with this girl on the other side of the world. This visitor wasn't a Youth Minister, Preacher or someone who had great spiritual authority...so to speak. This was simply a person being lead by the Spirit in such a way that one could not deny God's involvement. It was an INCREDIBLE evening!
The problem is it was ONLY WEDNESDAY!!! You have a powerful Spirit lead evening 2 days sooner than you were expecting. As a director how do you keep the momentum up? How do you not let this go away? Again in steps God.
Thursday class is very good. The students are engaged and we think they are making the connection. Many discussions about the previous evenings events led many to say, "If [that person] can tell their story...I'd like to share mine too." This was also the day of the record breaking heat. It was decided by the camp board and directors that camp needed to end early...like Friday afternoon early. This meant our previously scheduled 'spiritual peak' would have to be bumped up to Thursday night.
It was at this point that I began to see God hiding in the trees as Lucy did. We didn't know how hot it was going to be that week. We didn't know that camp was going to be called off early. God knew what the weather was going to do. He knew the events that would lead to the place where he wanted the teens. He knew what we didn't. God planned it exactly how it should have been. He moved and connected just in his time and I still laugh and am shocked when I step back and see it.
When we allow God to act within our lives we are allowing him to write our story. I remember praying the Saturday night before campers arrived on Sunday that God would move. That he would move in such a way it would be undeniable...yet when he did...I was stunned and felt myself pulling back saying, "No, this isn't what I had planned!"
How planned is your life? Does God have any wiggle room to write your story? Do you miss the lion roaming in the forest because it's utterly ridiculous that a lion would be there? I'll tell you now, God isn't LION around on the job...and that's my STORY and I'm stickin to it.
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