Share your light

03Aug
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
-John 1:1-5


Growing up, the most important weeks of my summers were spent at Camp Hardtner, the Episcopal Church Camp for both diocese in Louisiana. It’s in Kisatchie National Forest, just outside of Pollock, Louisiana.


Camp Hardtner is a special place. It instills in the campers God’s unconditional love. It plants seeds and fosters relationships based on faith and God’s love that can last lifetimes and span generations. One of my camp friends, a former Trinity Parishioner who is now raising his family in Maryland, spends his summers making countless trips back and forth from Maryland to Pollock, Louisiana, transporting his four children to different sessions of Camp Hardtner, insuring that his kids will know this love.


This summer, an amazing staff of college kids — 20 young adults, 2 from Trinity!! — served as counselors at Camp Hardtner. They’ve given up their summers, making about 65 cents an hour, all to share the Light of Christ with children and teenagers from all over Louisiana and beyond. As a parent of a middle school camper, I am so grateful for the staff’s selfless commitment. As a parent of one of the counselors, I am so proud of her willingness to share her faith and talents.


Father John Pitzer recently preached on the Kingdom of Heaven, and shared tremendous examples of how members of our community here at Trinity have shared the Kingdom. As I listened from my pew, I felt a little guilty for slacking on my part. But then I smiled, grateful for those 20 college kids (and my daughter) who share the Light of Christ to hundreds of children in the woods near Pollock, Louisiana. And I’m grateful for the parents who drive hundreds (or thousands) of miles so that their children may experience the Kingdom of Heaven at Camp Hardtner.


Musical Reflection - Shine Jesus Shine - Graham Kendrick


Jesus, help me to share your light and bring your kingdom of heaven to all.

Amen.

Kingdom of God

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