Tonight I'm doing something I have not done in years, and remembering how much I love it: I'm sitting by a campfire. My oldest son, Gavin, turned 13 yesterday and for his birthday he wanted to bring some of his buddies camping at Knob Noster State Park. Now, mind you, Knob Noster State Park is a whopping 10 minutes from my house. My wife and daughter recognized this and chose to go home and sleep in their own beds, so I'm sharing a tent, S'mores, and hot dogs with six 11- to 13-year-old middle school boys. And I'm loving every minute of it!
For a couple of the guys, this is a first. They've never been camping, never roasted hot dogs or popped popcorn over a campfire, never slept in a tent. Our fishing excursion--complete with witnessing a snake eating a frog--was also a first. One of the fellas even said he'd never shelled and eaten a peanut!! Do not get me wrong: These are boys with great families who have given them wonderful life experiences. Just not the camping one, and I am honored they've trusted me to give them this one. Listening to them say things like "This is the best birthday sleepover ever" and "I haven't had this much fun in months", THOSE are the things I love to hear. It reminds me, in all of the hustle and bustle of life, it's really all about serving the Lord, and my favorite way to do that is to teach and mentor young people, whether that is in my profession as a professor, as a coach, as a VBS worship leader, or especially as a father. I just have to give thanks, for my cup runneth over.
Thank you, Lord, for your many blessings, for your wonderful masterpiece we call Earth, for the life you've given me, and for the opportunity to share you with the world, especially the young men I'm gonna have to try to force to sleep! In Jesus name, Amen.
