Summer Issue | Page 31

I finally agreed to try again . It was kind of a leap of faith .
Trusting in others and in God is pretty hard . We don ’ t really know and can ’ t really know everything about God , or why he works the way he does , but we just have to trust . I had to trust in my counselors to know I ’ d get down off the rock safely . When we ’ re scared , we just trust . Even simple things like thunderstorms — when I was a younger camper , and there was a crazy storm in the middle of the night , I would just have to wait it out . Sometimes that ’ s all we can do .
A more recent time of stress was the college application process . It was a whirlwind of essay-writing , transcriptsending and decision-making . I had no idea where I wanted to go . And waiting to hear back was like watching grass grow .
Another tradition at camp is having a “ feeling check ” every night before bed . We go around the cabin and answer a few questions , one of which is usually : “ Where did you see God today ?” This question is pretty easy to answer at Shrine Mont . Like I said , it ’ s truly a place apart . However , back in the “ real world ,” it ’ s sometimes harder to see God at work . Romans says “ God ’ s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us .” I believe that we need to take this love and spread it as far as it will go , no matter where we are or whom we ’ re with . Camp is so great because of the unconditional love there . I want to take that and share it with the community .
I ’ d like to repeat this verse from today ’ s Gospel : “ When the Spirit of truth comes , he will guide you into all truth …” I like this verse because we don ’ t always understand God . We can only work with and trust in the knowledge that we have . I know that whenever I see God at work , it ’ s through many ways . I see God through volunteer work . A while back , the youth group here did a project called “ 100 Meals for $ 100 .” We worked on cooking meals that were only $ 1 each . Working with such a strict price limit was difficult , but it was worth it to help serve the community . I see God through simple things too , like making new friends , helping strangers , or even just having a conversation with someone you don ’ t usually talk to . And that can be hard ! But sometimes , you have to take that little leap of faith .
I ’ d like to thank everyone here for helping me grow over the past 18 years . I ’ m so thankful for Mary Beth Abplanalp and Anna Broadbent for being wonderful youth leaders and mentors , Mr . Jason for being an amazing choir director who has put up with my constant requests to play flute in church , Reverend Heather for guiding me through the sermon-writing process , and my family for always being there for me . I know I can always find peace in this church and the presence of God , which have been and will always be supportive of me and my journey . t
VIRGINIA EPISCOPALIAN / SUMMER 2016 29