A young child growing up lives under the protection of his or her mother and father, or just mother or just father, or a guardian… Someone (a provider) is responsible for that child; for providing, for caring, for love and protection. The child grows and develops, and eventually starts to learn that he is really not the center of the world. He learns that the world is rather larger and at times scary. This child starts to see the world outside of his immediate protection and learns that the providers are not all powerful. That his providers are responsible to other providers.
This child starts to realize that he or she won’t live forever and maybe this scares him. At church they speak of Hell. At night, when forced to bed by his parents, he lays there dreading to fail asleep – will I wake up in the morning or will there be no morning. He finds that being alone is frightful and he is glad that he shares his room with his two brother. Being alone at night AND having to go a sleep by himself is unimaginable – unthinkably terrifying. He thinks, “Am I going to wake up or not?” This goes on for months. That summer his parents sign him up for church camp. They think he is old enough to spend a week away from home and he thinks, they might be happy to have him away for a couple of weeks.
Dread and fear fills the child. Where am I going? Uh, what do they do there? Where will I sleep? Who else will be there? You say I will have fun?
The time for the camp arrives all too quickly. His parents drop him off at church. The pastor drives up with the boy to camp. The pastor tries to make small talk; although the child is hesitate to speak. He is nervous. What is going to happen? The fear of the unknown has taken hold. His trust in anyone is nonexistent –his providers are not there, the people he is comfortable with and have come to know, those that provide for him. The things that he needs and those things that he just wants: those desires for a new toy, for watching TV, for things that make him happy… His providers are not there. He is alone.
At camp he hesitantly follows the directions of checking in. He shuffles his feet as he quietly he settles in and follows the directions. Noiselessly he trails everyone, as walk to dinner -he sits by himself. I don’t know these people. Dinner is finished and night time arrives; it time for bed – lights out! The old fears are there, magnified swirling around him as he lies there in bed. Here in this cabin, 5 other boys are sleeping peacefully. Don’t they know that anything can happen to them? Don’t they know that they might not wake up? Well at least they are there and he does not have to experience this alone. He is not having fun.
Morning arrives, he feel asleep sometime last night. “I am awake” -relief. The fear of sleeping fades; a new day is here.
He gets up, dresses and makes a trip to the bathroom. Our camp counselors arrive full of cheer and speaking rather loudly. They say, first to breakfast and then a full schedule of crafts, playtime, fun and excitement… He takes stock of the situation and the melancholy returns. How do I have fun, here? I don’t want to be here and I don’t know anyone…
The first day is over and it could have been worse. Dread starts: dinner is over and it’s time for bed.
The second day is the same as the first; except, maybe a bit more easily, he does know a few names of his cabin mates and counselors. The third day is starting to become routine; the counselors are good providers. He is starting to relax. Then he starts to listen. And he even begins to enjoy the evening worship assembly.
The camp director’s name is Paul. Although, he can be loud at times, he is friendly and seems to enjoy being around the boy.
Wednesday night, exhausted, the boy went to sleep as soon as his head touched the pillow. No thoughts of dread and no thoughts of death.
Thursday, a new day. It started out bright and cheerful. Everyone was in the routine and everyone knew what was happening that day – food, fun and crafts. Evening the worship assembly started early and the boy was smiling and singing right alone with everybody. The message that night was about being afraid.
The message that night was about being afraid: Afraid of the dark, afraid during a thunderstorm and about afraid of being alone. The pastor (Paul) talked about how everyone is afraid of something. But fear can be a good thing and we should not let our fears keep us from enjoying the life. He said that Jesus wants us to have a good life, but because our world was darkened by sin, there are many things to be afraid of. Being afraid is like being in a prison, but God has set us free through Jesus. The more you are afraid, the less you live the life that God has for you. Then he spoke of how can overcome our fears and how Jesus promised to help us when we are afraid.
He made it clear that our decision that matters. Paul said, “It is our decision to live in fear or to be free in Jesus.” He invited anyone and everyone to come forward and accept Jesus as their Saviour. He said, “Because our choices matter into eternity, God constantly appeals to our ability to choose. That's why Jesus said, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” Don't let fear keep you from Christ. Christ went all the way to the Cross because He loved you. Certainly you can come down here and give your life and trust to Him . . .”
You see, it was then that I made up my mind, with tears in my eyes and free of fear, I walk down there to that altar and prayed for the saving Grace of Jesus. I placed my trust in Jesus and felt peace in the ultimate Provider.
Ever since that week at camp, I have never been afraid of going to sleep.
That week at church camp I learned:
This child starts to realize that he or she won’t live forever and maybe this scares him. At church they speak of Hell. At night, when forced to bed by his parents, he lays there dreading to fail asleep – will I wake up in the morning or will there be no morning. He finds that being alone is frightful and he is glad that he shares his room with his two brother. Being alone at night AND having to go a sleep by himself is unimaginable – unthinkably terrifying. He thinks, “Am I going to wake up or not?” This goes on for months. That summer his parents sign him up for church camp. They think he is old enough to spend a week away from home and he thinks, they might be happy to have him away for a couple of weeks.
Dread and fear fills the child. Where am I going? Uh, what do they do there? Where will I sleep? Who else will be there? You say I will have fun?
The time for the camp arrives all too quickly. His parents drop him off at church. The pastor drives up with the boy to camp. The pastor tries to make small talk; although the child is hesitate to speak. He is nervous. What is going to happen? The fear of the unknown has taken hold. His trust in anyone is nonexistent –his providers are not there, the people he is comfortable with and have come to know, those that provide for him. The things that he needs and those things that he just wants: those desires for a new toy, for watching TV, for things that make him happy… His providers are not there. He is alone.
At camp he hesitantly follows the directions of checking in. He shuffles his feet as he quietly he settles in and follows the directions. Noiselessly he trails everyone, as walk to dinner -he sits by himself. I don’t know these people. Dinner is finished and night time arrives; it time for bed – lights out! The old fears are there, magnified swirling around him as he lies there in bed. Here in this cabin, 5 other boys are sleeping peacefully. Don’t they know that anything can happen to them? Don’t they know that they might not wake up? Well at least they are there and he does not have to experience this alone. He is not having fun.
Morning arrives, he feel asleep sometime last night. “I am awake” -relief. The fear of sleeping fades; a new day is here.
He gets up, dresses and makes a trip to the bathroom. Our camp counselors arrive full of cheer and speaking rather loudly. They say, first to breakfast and then a full schedule of crafts, playtime, fun and excitement… He takes stock of the situation and the melancholy returns. How do I have fun, here? I don’t want to be here and I don’t know anyone…
The first day is over and it could have been worse. Dread starts: dinner is over and it’s time for bed.
The second day is the same as the first; except, maybe a bit more easily, he does know a few names of his cabin mates and counselors. The third day is starting to become routine; the counselors are good providers. He is starting to relax. Then he starts to listen. And he even begins to enjoy the evening worship assembly.
The camp director’s name is Paul. Although, he can be loud at times, he is friendly and seems to enjoy being around the boy.
Wednesday night, exhausted, the boy went to sleep as soon as his head touched the pillow. No thoughts of dread and no thoughts of death.
Thursday, a new day. It started out bright and cheerful. Everyone was in the routine and everyone knew what was happening that day – food, fun and crafts. Evening the worship assembly started early and the boy was smiling and singing right alone with everybody. The message that night was about being afraid.
The message that night was about being afraid: Afraid of the dark, afraid during a thunderstorm and about afraid of being alone. The pastor (Paul) talked about how everyone is afraid of something. But fear can be a good thing and we should not let our fears keep us from enjoying the life. He said that Jesus wants us to have a good life, but because our world was darkened by sin, there are many things to be afraid of. Being afraid is like being in a prison, but God has set us free through Jesus. The more you are afraid, the less you live the life that God has for you. Then he spoke of how can overcome our fears and how Jesus promised to help us when we are afraid.
He made it clear that our decision that matters. Paul said, “It is our decision to live in fear or to be free in Jesus.” He invited anyone and everyone to come forward and accept Jesus as their Saviour. He said, “Because our choices matter into eternity, God constantly appeals to our ability to choose. That's why Jesus said, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” Don't let fear keep you from Christ. Christ went all the way to the Cross because He loved you. Certainly you can come down here and give your life and trust to Him . . .”
You see, it was then that I made up my mind, with tears in my eyes and free of fear, I walk down there to that altar and prayed for the saving Grace of Jesus. I placed my trust in Jesus and felt peace in the ultimate Provider.
Ever since that week at camp, I have never been afraid of going to sleep.
That week at church camp I learned:
- The willingness to trust comes with peace.
- When peace is in us, new experiences do not have to be terrifying.
- Strangers don’t have to be outsiders.
- We are never alone.
- God is our provider and protector.
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