I don't think I've told you this story, but I'm going to anyway. :)
I go to Camp Woodland for my girls' camp. I love it! There are no cabins for the girls, but there is an ampitheatre, bathrooms, a HUGE field, and tons of nature. But one thing I know the girls absolutely love (at least in my ward) is the river.
The river that runs through Camp Woodland is nothing like a luscious soak where you can float merrily down the way, singing "I love Mormon Boys and just can't lie..."
No, this river is a he-man-woman-loved river! It is freezing (like 20 degrees F freezing). It (on average) usually gets about (at max) 5 feet deep. If that. Depends on the rain season. And even better, there are little leeches (that you find kissing the backs of your thighs), dangling branches that just want to insnare you, and rapids.
And then the YCLS have to tell you all about how a girl drowned in there (don't think so.) But, let's say that, by the end of their little river intro, you are shivering in your water shoes...and you haven't even stepped foot in the river.
So, you wait in a line to get your big inner tube blown up and then waddle down the slope towards the river with your sisters.
Ah there she is. Beautiful. Bishop is fishing with a few of the Priesthood bretheren. The young women in front of you are squealing. You hear a shreek as you get closer to stepping in. Isn't that just dang relaxing?!
And when you step in, you debate whether you want to warm your legs up afterwards by dumping a pale of stove water on it or sticking your leg in the fire. OH, DANG IS IT COLD???!!!! Cold like...shaking bones cold.
And you wonder why we are so daring (and maybe a little crazy) enough to step into that river every year? It's called adrenaline.
And the scouts thought that girls' camp is for wusses.
The worst part about your first meeting with the river is having the courage to jump onto your inner tube. Especially if you've already tried twice, and, each time, you ended up tipping. And then, you start squealing and trying to stop yourself so the other girls can catch up.
Sometimes we link hands. It's a great feeling of safety. We glide down the softer part of the river, trying to not get too close to the sides. Dangling branches are a hazard...and OUCH do they hurt!!
As you progress, there are mud banks. Last year, I got stuck in it. Tell me to go off a roller coaster - no prob. Get me stuck in a mud bank, screaming and flailing arms!! Poor Melissa had to pull me out of the mud bank, because I was so panicked.
Then there are the rapids. We have a saying...it's "BUMS UP!" If you don't follow YCL guidelines, than you oh-so-uncomfortably meet Mr. Bolder.
Last year, the river was like a deathly game we liked to play. We had had a huge rainstorm and it was still showing signs of raining. The water was up and it was fast. Many girls nearly got sucked under the blocking ropes. Some accidentally got pulled into the wrong way.
Why I tell you this is not to tell you a horror story about a Weber County Church camp. No. But rather to emphasize the importance of help. I could've gotten myself out of the mud bank by myself, but I probably would've lost my shoes and gotten stuck in the process. I get so scared by the prospect of drowning, sometimes I can't get myself in the right direction.
One great thing about life is that it is hard. It is scary. But we can have fun too! We can enjoy the ride, even if it hurts. And we must stay away from those dangerous edges and extremes. God loves us and has given us support. Friends. Family. And we have lifejackets, like prayer and church attendance. I would be a mad woman to go down the river without a lifejacket. And God knows that. He loves me enough to give me the tools I need to get through this river of life safely.
So, please pray for me at girls' camp. I'm dang sure I'll be idiotic enough to go in that river (AGAIN). But this time, I want to enjoy it and not get stuck. I want to help my little sister on her first river ride. :) Much love!
-J
No comments:
Post a Comment