en·ti·tle
verb (used with object), en·ti·tled, en·ti·tling.
1. to give (a person or thing) a title, right, or claim to something; furnish with grounds for laying claim: His executive position entitled him to certain courtesies rarely accorded others.
I'm going with the "claim to something" part of the definition. It typically would have popped up in numerous ways throughout the planning and execution of this trip, as well as many times throughout the week. I learned that in past years, entitlement poured itself over way too many areas of this trip. Friends, it didn't exist last week at ALL!!!!! I recognized places where it had been, but I didn't feel it. I am truly amazed! Have you ever gotten to the point where you realized that you had overcome something? It's pretty cool!
Now I will say that I still have a love/hate relationship with this trip. It is sooooo stinkin' hot, you can't get clean, you can't drink enough water and unless you want to fry like an egg on a buttered up pan, you really have no choice but to sit at the campsite in whatever shade you can find and do alot of nothing. That's what I did......I knew I didn't want to fry (even though I had sunblock on -although I'm pretty sure that we sweated it off as fast as we put it on) So I sat around the camp site and did nothing. I talked to some others who joined me in the sitting and shading. So I guess "nothing" wouldn't be the right word to use here because I built relationships!
Someone from our group gave his life to the Lord on Wednesday night~that's the first night of the festival friends!!! God snatched him up right quick!!! That experience led to so many amazing conversations about God, Jesus, faith, walking it out, etc. That was my highlight of the week - that's the one thing that made all of the heat and sweat and dirt worth it! I had brought one of my extra bibles with me last week and felt the urge to give it to this new brother in Christ! Our group proceded to mark it up with all of their favorite verses and points to remember.....it was the best gift that you can give to someone! He was blown away at his experience last week and I hope that he never forgets it! Something like that can impact the rest of your life!
I've also realized that what keeps me coming back to CreationFest year after year, is not the festival itself, but the people that I spend the week with. Although the group changes from year to year, there's something about the community that is created within the confines of a week like that. So now I'm on a mission to create the same type of community in a cooler month of the year :) I don't know how that's gonna go, but I'm gonna try anyway! I'm sure that I'll find out that the unique qualities of CreationFest impact the overall week in more ways than I'm willing to admit right now!
Well that's the kick off to a very fast and busy summer! We go into Vacation Bible School next week. Our youth group is sending a group of people off to Haiti the week after that. Our summer camp is coming up in August (I'm the craft lady for the week) We have Julia's birthday in between there somewhere, sunday school lessons to read and teach and a slew of other activities. This leads me to my next life lesson.......how to change the childhood version of summer into one of adult-like service. I don't have carefree summers, they are busy and full and packed. And although it is all very good stuff, those crazy, negative, little emotions like to come along for the ride - I will be working on keeping them out so that I can serve to my fullest with a grateful heart and open arms.
It seems that I am learning every day, in new ways, what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus! It's exhilerating and exhausting!!
Until next time <3 Lorraine
Until next time <3 Lorraine
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