The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of the Lord endures forever. This has always been one of my favorites and is a comforting reminder that God's got this, and that no matter what I do or fail to do, everything will be okay. For me, 2018 feels like it has been absolutely packed with seasons of life - it has been exciting, busy, stressful, fun, exhausting, and full of change and growth. And yet God's presence is there in the midst of it all.
I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to experience the seasons as they come and go at camp, both the astronomical seasons (winter, spring, summer, fall) and the summer camp/retreat seasons. I honestly can't even choose a favorite. I love them all. Of course Summer is an easy response, as camp is buzzing with activity, packed with friendly faces, everything is leafy and green, and every day is a lake day. I love Winter too though; it is quiet and calm, things slow down a little, the retreat groups are cozier and more intimate, and the cold, crisp mornings can be stunning, especially with a layer of snow. And Fall is also one of my favorites, with the bold yellows, reds and oranges, warm days and cool nights, crunchy leaves, the family camps with old friends and those experiencing camp for the first time, and the school groups who we get the opportunity to engage and spark their curiosity for the year. And Spring! In Spring everything starts to speed up again as we finish preparations for another exciting Summer, our retreat groups become larger and more frequent, our Spring school groups return to celebrate their growth that year, and the forest resumes its fluffy
greenness. Basically, they are all my favorites because they all bring unique gifts to our ministry at Caroline Furnace. None of these seasons last and they all fade, yet God shapes every moment and makes it beautiful. Each of these varied moments give us that sense of warmth and belonging, of home, and I think that is a key part of why Caroline Furnace is cherished by so many. Camp reminds us that we are a child of God and that we are in fact not in control of everything, and gives us that child-like lens of excitement and wonder for the beauty around us. Thank you to all who have helped make Caroline Furnace home to so many in 2018, and remember that you are welcome home at camp anytime!