Merry Christmas to All!

“If you could be any person in the world, real or fictional, who would you choose and why?”  This is the question that was posed to me not too long ago in the middle of one of those “bonding exercises” that many of us are asked to participate in from time to time.  The question is not surprising; my answer on the other hand just might surprise you.  “Santa Claus,” I answered, “because he makes people happy.”  I know, I know, pretty shallow answer.  Maybe, just maybe, if I really reflected upon it I might have a more serious, meaningful response to this innocuous question that was serving as an “ice breaker” in some sort of group dynamics function.  But then again, maybe not. 

As many of you know, I have always been a big Christmas guy.  I like the season, its energy, its traditions, and its weather…basically I like everything about it and that includes the jolly old fat man himself.  I, like Santa, really enjoy finding that perfect something for that perfect someone, be they my 7 month old grandson or my 95 year old mother.  I love the expression of surprise and happiness that comes from a gift that strikes home with the recipient and I love the quest of obtaining just that type of gift for the folks in my giving circle. 

For the past two Christmases I have had the privilege of actually playing Santa at our Camp War Eagle Community Christmas Dinner.  This is a dinner for over 800 underserved families that we put on each year in northwest Arkansas.  All of the family members who attend receive a nice Christmas meal with all of the trimmings, a week’s supply of groceries to take home and age appropriate gifts for the children.  During the event, over one hundred kids come sit on Santa’s knee, have their picture taken and whisper expectantly and excitedly what they would like for Christmas.  It never ceases to amaze me as to how plugged in kids are today.  Whether they come from the wealthiest home in one of our Camp Ozark cities or the most meager of circumstances, they all have big dreams of what Santa is gonna do for them!  Time and time again as I greeted the children I heard them ask for a Nintendo DSI, a WII or a flat screen television set.  I had requests for horses, dogs, cats, baby brothers and sisters…you name it, they asked for it. 

Nothing they asked for even remotely surprised me, that is until one little girl timidly climbed up on my knee to pose for the camera.  After the picture was taken I asked her what she would like for Christmas.  “Santa,” she replied, “I really don’t want anything for myself, but I sure would like my family to be happy.” I looked down at the little girl and I really didn’t know what to say to her.  From her comment, it was obvious that her family was not very happy.  What could I say?  What could I do?  How could I avoid disappointing her?  Finally, I mumbled something about depending on God when the next child in line elbowed the little girl out of the way, jumped up on my knee and started listing off all of the material things he wanted from Santa.  I nodded and half-way listened, but my heart was still with the little girl who had looked up expectantly with those big brown eyes and asked for something that neither I nor any other human had the capability of giving her…a stable home, loving parents a peaceful existence.  I still love Santa Claus and I still love playing Santa Claus for those children every year and I still get a kick out of how savvy they are when they ask for things from Santa, but my heart and my prayers are with that one little girl who didn’t want anything for herself, but instead wanted only what Santa couldn’t give…peace. 

Peace at Christmas, or any other time for that matter, comes from one source and one source only…Jesus Christ.  We like to say that we celebrate his birth at this time of the year.  We generally give him a nod, a wink and a smile just so we don’t forget him in the midst of the business of the season.  Maybe instead of pretending to celebrate his birth, we should honor it.  Maybe instead of celebrating his life, we should honor it.  Maybe instead of celebrating his death and resurrection, we should honor it…at Christmas and beyond.  We honor Christ not by what we do but by who we are.  We honor Christ not by what we say, but by how much we listen…to Him.  We honor Christ not by tradition, but through relationship.  We honor Christ by loving him enough to want to be more like Him.  We honor Christ by wanting Him to be known to others.  Jesus is not the reason for the season, HE IS THE SEASON!!! 

I don’t know if I will ever see that little girl again…maybe next year at the same time and place, who knows.  I know this, until Christ returns we will continue to live in an imperfect world, one full of materialism on one hand and abject poverty on the other.  One full of stable families on one hand and families with no stability on the other, one full of people who want only material blessings for Christmas on one hand and little girls who want nothing material, just the peace of a happy family on the other.  I do know this however; Jesus loves that little girl and her family.  He desires for her family to know Him and experience the happiness that comes from knowing Him…and He loves me, with all my flaws and mistakes and shortcomings, HE STILL LOVES ME…AND YOU!!!!  MERRY CHRISTMAS- FROM SANTA CLAUS (SAM)

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE IN!!!

On October 29^th, 1941, in the midst of the darkest days of World War II, when all that stood between Nazi Germany and Great Britain was the passage of the English Channel, when Great Britain was in the throes of night after night of harrowing bombing attacks unleashed by the Nazis, when the English people were dismayed and afraid, Prime Minister Winston Churchill ventured to the Harrow School for Boys that he had attended as a youth and gave a speech to the young men that is remembered to this day.  Though the speech contained some other remarks, the remarks that some say forever changed the mindset of the British people are found in these simple words “Never give in”, Churchill said, “never, never, never, never, never give in….” 

I was vividly reminded of those words today at Camp Ozark, for today at Camp Ozark I witnessed one of the greatest examples of that philosophy I have ever seen in my 26 summers of directing Camp Ozark.  As many of you know, the closing Friday of each session brings about the Ultimate Solution, the determinant, all-camp relay that determines the winner of our session Tribal Competition program.  As many of you also know, for the past 26 summers at Camp Ozark, our philosophy in Tribal Competition has been built around our three flames of Tribal Competition…maximum enthusiasm, maximum sportsmanship and, above all, maximum effort, giving everything you have to everything you do. 

Today the Caddo began the race with their backs to the wall, down 2 sessions to 1, trailing the Osage by 31 seconds, the Osage going for the victory that would seal the summer.  In our pre-race fire-up, the Caddo received another blow when the Osage were victorious.  This meant that the Caddo would have to make up 36 seconds in order to catch the Osage.  As the race began with the youngest boys the Osage lengthened their lead to almost a minute.  As the relay which featured over 840 participants wound through camp, the Osage built what seemed to be an insurmountable lead of 2 minutes, 40 seconds, then slowly, ever so slowly, the Caddo began to creep back.

When the race reached the track, the Osage were still up by a comfortable two minute margin.  Coming out of the track to the 2^nd oldest boys the Caddo still trailed by almost two minutes.  As the events on the football field unfolded the Caddo fought hard, but going into the final event, the oldest boys’ obstacle course, the Caddo still trailed by 1 minute 30 seconds, a seemingly insurmountable lead. 

Being down a minute and a half going into the boys’ obstacle course is akin to being down 28-7 with two minutes to go in a football game.  It would have been very easy for the Caddo to coast.  They didn’t.  They fought.  Slowly the lead began to dissipate until amazingly with two runners to go for each tribe the race was dead even. 

The 2^nd to last runners, one 16, one 17, battled neck and neck all the way around the course until as the final runners began the last leg of the 2 hour long race, it was still dead even.  The roar was deafening as the Osage runner took a quick 3 second lead.  Again, the Caddo refused to give in. Slowly, ever so slowly, the gap began to close until with less than 50 feet to go, the race was dead even. 

As I stood at the finish line, my vision blocked by the last obstacle in the race, the daunting wall to be scaled, I had no idea who had fought to the front.  Then, in a flash, a blur of red scaled the wall, leaped over without even planting a foot and sped to the finish about 1 second in front.  From 2 minutes 40 seconds behind all the way to victory.  Never, never, never, never, never, never, never give in!!!!  They didn’t.  They lived what we teach every day at Camp Ozark.  It was the most amazing comeback I have ever witnessed anywhere, in any competition.  Amazing!!! Rewarding!!!! Confirming!!! I loved it!!!!

The Ballerina

I first met her seven years ago when she was a first year counselor at Incomparable Camp Ozark.  She caught my attention because, unlike almost all of the other summer staff members, she did not attend what I would call a mainstream four year university.  Instead, her school of choice was “Ballet Memphis”, which she had entered upon her graduation from high school. 

This summer marks her seventh consecutive summer as a member of the Incomparable Camp Ozark Summer Staff.  During that time, her ballet career has continued to flourish.  She began as a trainee, was elevated to an apprentice and this fall will begin her 4^th full year as a full company member of Ballet Memphis.  Her name is Rachel Shumake and she is just one of many who have a unique and wonderful story at Camp Ozark and outside of Camp Ozark. 

When I recently asked Rachel why she kept returning to Ozark summer after summer, she replied that beginning with her first summer her experience was amazing, that she loved working with other staff members whose desire was to serve God through serving kids, who were walking the walk, not simply talking the talk, and that she continually made a lot of friends who were great servant leaders. 

She told me that she continues to come back because she thinks the lessons we teach kids and staff are so valuable to your future and to your further development.  She believes that the three flames of Tribal Competition prepare young people to face the difficult challenges of adolescence and adulthood.  In applying her Ozark experience to her passion for ballet, she told me that Ozark has reinforced to her that when you have a goal, a passion, you must be dedicated and that dedication is an everyday thing, not just a sometime thing. 

As she begins her fourth season with Memphis Ballet, Rachel loves the fact that as she improves as an artist, she is able to connect with the young people she teaches and others with whom she interacts in the Memphis community and that as she becomes a better artist and seeks excellence she is more able to do that. 

We love having Rachel at Camp Ozark because she epitomizes our First Is Third attitude and because she has a passion for connecting with kids through the Ozark Experience.  If you happen to be in Memphis this school year, check out the Memphis Ballet Schedule.  Rachel would love to have you experience one of her performances and she’ll be easy to spot.  She’ll be the girl with beautiful red hair, a genuine smile and maybe, just maybe, wearing an Ozark tank top.

Hmm Bop

Music has always been an integral part of the Camp Ozark experience.  That should come as no surprise because music is an integral part of life, whether it is a collegiate band providing bold, brassy tunes at an athletic event, or the sound of beautiful choir offering praises to God.  Maybe it’s the simple notes of a piano in the background of a social event or tunes blaring from the car stereo on a sunny spring afternoon as you cruise down the highway.  Regardless, music is always a necessary part of the experience of life.  At Camp Ozark, we wake up to music (please not “Rock Lobster”), we travel to Tribal Competition to the strong sound of “The Eye of the Tiger”, we move between activities to music following the theme of the day, and the kids absolutely know when it is time for their favorite time of the day, Mish Mash, when they hear “I’m free to do what I want…”.  At our lifeline services we sing those crazy songs you only sing at Camp Ozark and, of course, every special event has its own distinct sound and songs.  Through the years, there have been certain songs that have caught on and morphed into what I like to call “the song of the summer”.  In the 80s we had songs like Pink Cadillac, Walkin’ on Sunshine and who out there remembers “Linear”?  In the 90s there were several until one year in the mid 90s, for some reason, the Ozark community was captivated by a “the boys from Tulsa” and their hit song Hmm Bop.  Now I have no idea why Hmm Bop lasted, but it did, probably for more than 10 years.  A song with simple, senseless lyrics, performed by a one hit wonder group, “the Hansons”, seemed to last and last and last.  Every year, regardless of what other tunes had emerged, Ozark campers would clamor for “the boys from Tulsa”.  I am somewhat sad (well, maybe not) to report that at long last “Hmm Bop”, has lost its luster and today’s Ozark campers don’t even really know who the Hansons are.  They know who Justin Beeber is though.  And the hits keep on comin’.  But here’s to music at Camp Ozark and here’s to “Hmm Bop”.  You will always have a special place in our hearts.  Now where is that latest Taylor Swift song?

Sunday at the Cross

For the last 26 years, the middle Sunday of every two week session has meant hiking to the cross...all campers, all staff...the entire Ozark family.  The Camp Ozark cross is located on a ridge, high above the Camp Ozark property and offers one of the most breath taking reviews you can imagine.  While we are at the cross, the kids do some coordinated yells that make really neat echos.  In addition, we sing some really fun, traditional "cross" songs and hear our summer staff talk about what God has meant to them.  The older kids also hear a message from Sam on the necessity of the cross and the resurrection.  Today at the cross was no different.  It was a beautiful, warm summer day.  The view was gorgeous and we had a great experience at the cross today.  For me personally, the cross has always been a very special place, a place I go to often to think, pray and consider the challenges of life.  Without question there may be more majestic views than the view from the cross, but for me personally, and for many of our long term campers and staff members, there is no place more special.