July 20 2025

About forty girls decided to run the grueling Great Day 5-K race this morning. It begins on the track at “lake level”, continues along the lower road then follows the Apple Hill Trail along the lake, then to the peak of the hill, then down Apple Hill Lane, up a very steep 350 foot driveway, past my house, through Tentalow Row, back to the River trail, then finishes at the barn. 3.5 miles of one of the most scenic and challenging races they will ever run. Only proven runners may enter, and just being accepted is an accomplishment. Finishing is a big deal… and they did so in style (all within a 3-minute band of time).

Another day… our last Sunday. Just writing that elicits an emotional response in me. How can it be over? It’s not over, of course. We have some very big days ahead of us and there is a ton of work to be done… but in my heart I know it is over. The days pass quickly despite being very long. Such a day seldom feels long at the end of the day. We bounce from job to job, talking and laughing, eating and sweating, drinking, snacking, running, walking, and meeting, then are amazed that it’s late and time to get in bed. Blink, it’s over. Do that three times and everyone will be gone… it is hard to process that fact.

But at this moment, I am also very excited about gathering for worship one last time. My mind goes back to my favorite sermon, preached by Reid Jones on the last Sunday Church at Main Camp a couple of years ago. You should listen to it if you enjoy good sermons; it’s a humdinger. Best teaching on faith I have ever heard (a fly fishing experience, 23 minutes into the sermon). I am listening to it even now as I write the blog and am once again touched. Such moments happen when the Holy Spirit is present in a community… moments of transcendence that strike unexpectedly and last a lifetime.

It’s a hot one today, muggy without much wind. We will meet in the FORT because of a meddlesome patch of sunlight at Council Fire. The patch of light was small on June 29th, only impacting a few benches, but now it is large enough to make half the benches hot during church time. The FORT is uniformly shaded, and is conveniently located close to the lake for photos with our friends afterwards. We will have a lazy day followed by our last Council Fire this evening. There is plenty of time to have DMCs, finish books, write plane letters, play on the Blob, swim in the pool, or play tetherball. We will also have our Riflery Tournament, Archery Tournament, and Art Show. So much to do, so little time.

We love camp.

Thank you