July 3 2025

The theme of Breakfast Club this week is Mental Growth. Yesterday, we featured some of the campers who can do amazing impersonations (OG Snow White, Dora the Explorer, and others)… it was a celebration of our community and an encouragement to be curious about the people around us. Today, we leaned into that portion of the Honor Code that is most difficult to master: See The Good.

Our fallen natures tend to overlook the good. It is more natural to assume the worst in people and circumstances, but our faith offers a supernatural alternative: look for the good, even in genuinely bad situations. When faced with a problematic relationship in the cabin, rather than grumbling or lashing out in frustration, we assume there is a reason for that tension and graciously work to resolve the matter with kindness. When we feel hot, we celebrate the cool of the shade. When we feel cold, we celebrate the coziness of an old sweatshirt. When we don’t like what Gervais cooked for our meal, we celebrate what he put on the salad bar. You get the point… There is always something good if we just look for it.

I was so captivated by the subject that I forgot what Breakfast Club joke I had chosen. This is a big deal because I am not good at telling jokes. Ironic, isn’t it? God certainly has a sense of humor, placing this heavy burden onto my narrow shoulders… if I don’t have it clearly in mind, I am going to flounder in the delivery. So I asked Bill to take the mic for a moment (he and Sandi sit at the head table during Breakfast Club every day, taking the best seats in the house just like any NY power couple would do). He immediately came up with a 30-second “dad joke” that was genuinely funny while I checked my Google Docs for the schedule. Crisis averted.

Thus begins another Great Day! We are looking forward to Cabin Night EP tonight, the Fourth of July celebration tomorrow, the Five-Year Celebration on Saturday, Church and Concert on Sunday, and a GIANT week to follow. Days fly by in a blur, weeks in a blink, then we’re shocked that camp is over. Life is like this. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Dr. Sevier preferred camp to church work… it reflects God’s glory in a compelling way… allowing the veil between heaven and earth to be lifted just a little bit.

I missed Andrews’ devotion (despite literally running from the office in order to hear it) but was comforted by the fact that I could catch it soon. Sure enough, by 10:30 it was posted. Technology can be a huge blessing… if you haven’t listened to our devotions and sermons, you’re missing out on a valuable opportunity for spiritual growth. They are so good.

I hope to go to both cooking areas (Whitehall and Garden) to see what’s up. Rumor has it that Solveig is making sushi (she bought a bunch of raw fish yesterday, and I got the bill last night) and Devan is making omelets. These are genuinely excellent classes that teach skills that will provide lifelong benefits. And it’s fun to eat the food you just made (I missed breakfast, so maybe that’s influencing my plan). It will be fun!

UPDATE ON THE KOI POND: The power washing of the inside walls is done; the fish will be put back in today or tomorrow. It looks fantastic, prompting many quick stops between classes (it is conveniently located in the middle of the campus). The fish seem to know that their imprisonment in the 5-gallon bucket is almost over, and they will soon have the big unveiling of their renovated home. I bet they won’t recognize the place! It is like one of those HGTV shows… for fish! I could go on and on, but I’d rather get to cooking… so we’ll leave it there!

Thanks for checking in.

Breakfast Pancakes and Sausage Links
Joke Paint the Porch
Lunch Mac and Cheese, Ham… SNICKERDOODLE COOKIES (All Caps bc yesterday I assumed it was cookies but it was actually jello… the nurses were not happy with the mistake! I checked this time to make sure!)
Dinner Greek Chicken Bowls
EP Cabin Night