Night of Laughter and Dancing

 

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 (ESV)

Close to six hundred teenagers, leaders, staff and their families, volunteer teens and adult guests formed a long procession down a dirt road to western themed night. Everyone dressed for the occasion at Sharptop Cove, a Young Life camp, in Georgia. 

            The teens had no idea what awaited them at the end of the road. But when they arrived, the fun began. Carnival games were set up for them to win tickets. They shot basketballs into hoops, footballs through hula hoops, set up bottles with a loop on a stick, knocked blocks over with a ball…When they won five tickets, they could throw a pie in their leader’s face. Five more tickets and they could spray the pie off their faces. 

            Popcorn and cotton candy were also available. No cost for anything and there was lots of laughing as music played.       After a while, students were instructed to form two lines-one of boys and one of girls. They circled behind a small barn and out the front. Couples were formed from the two lines and instructed to sit in groups of sixteen. The announcer told them to ask their partner where they were from and get to know each other while they waited for everyone to pair off. 

            Four couples then demonstrated how to do a simple square dance. The dancers stood and began the Virginia Reel. When someone didn’t know where to go, others told them. They laughed and moved down the line. Students came from Texas, Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio, Louisiana, and North Carolina. Some were from affluent neighborhoods and others from the inner city. Some were black and others were white. The differences didn’t matter. They grabbed hands and danced. 

            Probably most of them had never done that type of dancing. But they joined in and had a great time with people they had never met. 

            When I watched the group, my heart was full. Unlike the world we had escaped for a while, no one was left out. No one was putting anyone down for being different. Hundreds of young people became kids with no problems delighting in the evening.

            With no phones for a week, the teenagers focused on being present and enjoying activities at camp. I pray that they will remember the joy of camp and learning how to love each other and God.

Loving Father, continue to be with those who attended camp and help them see how much God loves them. Change lives and strengthen the faith of those who accepted Jesus. Work in each life.

Amen