A Time and Place Set Apart (Camp Sunday)

Matthew 14: 23

Roger Lynn

April 8, 2018

Camp Sunday

(click here for the audio for this sermon)

(click here for the video for the entire worship service - the sermon begins at 32:40)

We live fast-paced, busy, hectic lives in a fast-paced, busy, hectic world. And things only seem to be speeding up by the moment. In the world of computer design there is “Moore’s Law” – a computing term which states that processor speeds, or overall processing power for computers, will double every two years. Sometimes it seems like there is a similar “law” governing the speed of the world around us. Maintaining such busy-ness on an ongoing basis can have seriously detrimental effects on our bodies and our spirits. There is important wisdom to be found in ancient practices such as sabbath, which sets aside a day each week for rest and renewal. And there is also important wisdom to be found in ancient practices such as pilgrimage and retreat, which take us out of our “normal” everyday routines so that we might re-connect with ourselves, with each other, and with the Sacred Presence which surrounds us. Otherwise we get distracted and we forget who we are.

There are lots of practices we can incorporate into our lives to restore balance to our living. My watch has a feature that regularly reminds me to pay attention to my breathing. It takes a few seconds, but it slows me down enough for my soul to catch up. I regularly go for walks and enjoy the beauty of this place where I live. It’s hard to be stressed when my attention is focused on putting one foot in front of the other on the trail. You probably have your own practices, and if you don’t, I encourage you to find some that work for you. 

But even with ongoing, regular spiritual practices to keep our spirits energized and re-charged, there is also a need for the occasional time away. And that is where a place like church camp comes in. It offers the opportunity to pause and step away from the distractions of our everyday lives so that we have enough interior space to re-connect with our souls. In the case of our church camp – Mimanagish – this really does involve stepping away. It requires an intentional effort to get there, and once there it means setting aside some of the things we often take for granted in the course of our living – things like radio, and television, and cell phones, and internet. But when we set such things aside for a few days we gain the opportunity to breathe again, both literally and metaphorically. Simon and Garfunkle offered us an important lesson when they sang, “Slow down – you’re moving too fast!” (59th Street Bridge Song) Suddenly there is time to just be present – present to our own thoughts, present to our own being, present to each other, present to the stillness, present to God. 

It is vitally important to our spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being that we have such times and places which are set apart – places where we can pause and remember, rest and be renewed. We retreat to such places so that we can return to the living of our lives and be fully, deeply, richly alive. Church Camp is such a place. Mimanagish is such a place. And it is important to remember that it is not just for children and youth. There are also opportunities for people of all ages. You can go as a single. You can go as a couple. You can go as a family. You can go as a camper. You can go as a kitchen helper. You can go as a counselor. You can go as a director. You can go for a week-end retreat. You can go for a whole week. Give it a try. It might just be one of the best things you can do for your soul. Church Camp – a time and place set apart for rest, renewal, and re-connecting. Thanks be to God.