A Lesson in Listening

I have reached full funding for the trip! Thank you everyone for your support and prayers.

Listening

This past week I was a Cabin Counselor and Community Circle Leader at Camp Beyond Binary. One young camper had a unique blend of neuro-spiciness that sometimes led to a lack of interest in what their peers were doing and called for times of special attention. I loved being someone who could give this camper that extra level of care. I really vibed with them and how decidedly they knew what they wanted. Most of the time what they wanted was to look for sea glass along the lake shore. During boating hour, they would pull their Corcl ashore and find a handful of smooth, sand-tumbled glass while I paddled along the shore looking for sea glass from my kayak. I never found any. Sometimes we’d skipping rocks together, and soon our activity would turn to glass hunting. The camper would find 4 or 5 pieces. I would find none. Sometimes during crafts, at the end of all-camp gatherings, or during transition times, the camper would run to the shore and try to find another shard or two.

Toward the end of the week, instead of looking for sea glass with the camper, I sat on a hunk of drift wood and did some writing while the camper combed the shore with another counselor. I looked up from my writing, and next to me I noticed a green triangle among the small stones of the shore. My first sea glass shard. I went back to writing. After I finished, I looked in the direction of the other two people and my eyes caught the glint of another glass shard. I leaned over and grabbed it without getting up from my driftwood chair. I sat in reflection for a while, then–just as I was about to get up–I noticed a third piece of sea glass nearby. After all the days of looking without finding, I discovered three pieces of sea glass while sitting in one place.

It strikes me that listening for God can be like this. I went out searching while my mind was racing with the responsibilities of the day, so how open to divine discovery could I really be? Once I took a moment of stillness, I realized it was with me all along: God, the sea glass, contentment. I hope to enjoy a lot of time sitting, listening, and remaining open to the divine in the next year. I want that for you, too.

After that reflection, I got up and handed my glass to the camper. They thanked me and took a step away before turning around and offering it back. When I insisted it was for them, I believe I saw in their face a subtle mulling-over of an emotion that was more nuanced than they yet knew how to express. Then they lifted their head to look me directly and in the eye and softly, expressionlessly, said, “Thank you.”

Special Thanks

I want to take some space to acknowledge and thank each of the churches (and/or their pastors) that have contributed to this service mission.

Westminster United Methodist Church: My grandfather recently passed away. The church that he and Grandma went to while they were still alive and able-bodied is honoring them by topping off my mission funds.

Veritas: This church in Lancaster, PA was fundamental in the emergence of my faith as it is today. I attended during my two years living in Lanc, and I still visit when I can. The pastor has been very supportive of me for seven years now, and I recommend the community there to anyone in Lancaster.

Providence Community Church: When I returned from living in Africa, I was disillusioned with the American church. I started attending a young adults group through Providence mostly out of a need for community, but it got me back in church and opened the door to working in children’s ministry for a while.

Hanover Community Church: My parents are very involved in this church, and there so many kind people there. One summer they gave me the opportunity to support campers with special needs at their Challenge Camp, which was great experience for the work I did last week.

Sojourner’s Mennonite Fellowship: This community definitely played a crucial role in helping me feel at home in Western NY during the years I was there. I often brag on this church and how every little service decision–right down to sitting in a circle and “open singing”–points back to a shared vision of The Kingdom.

The entirety of this blog and its contents were written and published without any AI assistance.