The Talent Show

The theme for this week’s camp was Construction Zone.  It focused on building a solid foundation on Jesus, establishing the walls of prayer and God’s Word, which then leads to having a ‘future and hope’ (Jeremiah 29:11).  When D-n first saw the construction skit he wanted to be part of the skit.  “Do you want to be part of the talent show?” I asked.

“I want to be a construction worker,” he replied.

Throughout the week as he watched skits, his ideas changed and morphed like the Erie weather.  I confess that I was at a loss and even a little frustrated.  Not at D-n per se but more at myself for my own inadequacy at trying to help him out. 

Despite my weakness, God blessed 30/30 time.  At the beginning of the week, the counselors were given a sheet of paper that began with ‘Dear God.’ During our 30/30 times we were to have our campers fill this out.  I gave this to D-n.

While D-y did not want to do this, D-n asked if I could write the prayer out for him.  So he dictated and I wrote.  His prayer went something like this: “I promise I will not be bad anymore. I will try to be good. I will see you. I will be with you.”  As he dictated, I made a comment and said, “Do you know that God is with you?”

I took him to the end of Revelation where it reads: “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”  D-n wanted to read some verses so he read the part about God wiping away our tears and how there will be no more pain or death.  I then led him to Psalm 139 and had him read verses 13-14: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

“Do you know what this means?” I asked.

He shook his head in response.

”This means that God created you very special, very unique.  There is no one like you.” I responded.

He scrunched up his face, pondering this.  “I always thought the devil made me,” he replied.

Where he got this idea from I do not know.  “No,” I began. “The devil didn’t make you. He kills, steals and destroys. He is out to get you.  But God is good.  God made you for a purpose.” 

He wanted to read more verses but I looked up and noticed that D-y was gone.  He was just up the path with another group but this brought our time to a close.  But the seed planted in D-n’s heart stayed for he suddenly had a desire to read God’s word.  His heart was beginning to open and soften.

But the talent show still loomed. During the afternoon, he then had an idea to be Mr. Science.  I talked with John, who acted as Mr. Science and he gave some helpful suggestions.  He reminded me that it is all about the kids and sometimes you just have to go with the flow!  This was the best advice to me at this moment. I fretted over something that was designed to be fun for the campers and counselors.  While I had my own idea in the back of my head, D-n had his.  And so we went with his, even though I began to understand a little about what would be required of me.

And so later that evening I stood in a white jump suit with painted nails, holding a cup full of soapy water and dish detergent.  “Drink Shven,” D-n said.

I raised the cup to the air as with a toast. “Se la vie. Zie Jesus!” 

Then I chugged the cup down to the dregs in the midst of ‘ewws’ and ‘yucks’ from the crowd.  The soapy water was not too bad but the dish detergent that settled on the bottom of the cup stung the back of my throat. I stood there wondering what this was going too do to me while D-n finished his skit.  The audience cheered for him and when our skit was done, I went back and got a glass of water.

“Are you okay?” Some of the staff asked.

“Yeah.” I replied, even though my tummy felt more then a little turbulent.  I swished my mouth out with water but could still taste the soap, which is not a very pleasant taste.

After the talent show and during our break, I retreated to the basketball court under a starry night.  The Milky Way was brushed across the diamond-scattered black velvet sky.  Beautiful! It was so peaceful but my tummy was all but not.  I sat down on the court but the taste of soap finally overpowered me.  There I retched.  First a dry heave.  Then the second time something came up in the dark. 

I sat there, exhausted from the week and weary now in body.  All I wanted to do was lay down and gaze at the stars.  Why was I doing this?  Was it just for the kids or was there a deeper meaning to all that took place?

Then the question came.  A whisper from beyond the shadow of the stars blew gently into my wondering heart. “How far will you go for me?”

How far will I go for Him?  Ah…that is the question.  Am I willing to humble my masculine pride so two little girls are able to paint my nails and smile?  Do I drink soapy water and dish detergent only later to retch in the dark so that my camper would somehow catch a glimpse of Christ’s love?  How far will I go to show the love of Christ to these little children? 

How far did my fellow counselors go for Him? They ate chocolate covered onions and hot dogs just to bring a smile on a child who may not have a lot of laughter and joy in his/her life. My fellow female counselors and staff risked a plague of lice as they plucked through hair—all this to show the tender love of Christ to these children. Some of them gave up their vacations and pay to spend a week with these children—they looked heavenward for their eternal reward.  We endured lack of sleep, sunburn and weary hours just to bring hope to a child.  How far do we go for the One who said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life?”

How far will I go for Him? How far will you?