I have to admit, Sunday was not my favorite day growing up. While my friends were playing in the vacant lot next door I was getting dressed for church in my suit and tie. Sunday school was okay but 10 year-old boys had better things to do than sit in a pew listening to the pastor talk about the Bible. On the way home my parents talked about the inspiring sermon, but in my opinion it was really loooong. I did however do some of my best doodling during those sermons.
Being affiliated with the church did have its perks. Every summer I got to go to camp Yo-Ko-Mo for a week of summer camp. One by one everyone was assigned to a camp family consisting of eight-ten campers and two counselors. Families would compete with each other throughout the week in various games but more importantly would share Godly experiences. We had a “Home in the Woods” where we would sing songs around the campfire, cook breakfast on a “buddy burner” (3 pound coffee can with a hole in one side), and talk about all the ways we experienced God’s blessings throughout the day. Every evening after dinner we had a worship service at Vesper Point, a scenic overlook on the bluff of one of the rivers running through the camp. We experienced God’s gifts using all five of our senses. Of course I made sure to find a girlfriend to spend time with during the week. When it came time to go we shed many tears, exchanged addresses and promised to write.
This experience taught me that God is everywhere. Thanks mom and dad for dragging me to church every Sunday and making sure I had a chance to learn about God’s blessings at a very young age.
“Things We Said Today” is a song written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It is from the album A Hard Day’s Night, the third studio album by English rock band the Beatles, released on 10 July 1964, with side one containing songs from the soundtrack to their film A Hard Day’s Night. The American version of the album was released two weeks earlier, on 26 June 1964 by United Artists Records, with a different track listing.
Truly appreciate your post and music selections. You make my day so often. Thank you for all you do.
Your Brother in Christ
Dick Gilby
Love reading and learning even more about you, Brad!!
Well, you were at a rather progressive camp, Brad! Camp Joy (Baptist) had certain weeks for girls only, and other weeks for boys only. I didn’t go to a co-ed experience until I was in high school, when we went to Ridgecrest in NC. Of course, we were separated by gender in the dorms, but the grounds were not, especially that tunnel under the road (wink, wink)! Now that I think of it, there was one boy who thought we would see each other again. I think we wrote a couple of times, but you know those long-distance relationships…. It was nice to hear your story. Thanks for jogging my memory!
Oh my gosh, Brad, I also went to Camp YoKoMo, cooked on a buddy burner, experienced Vesper Point, etc! I remember night swims and having to “sing” for your mail if you got a letter from home. One year I came home covered in poison ivy!
That is so cool. I have a lot of great memories from that camp. Sounds like we are strolling down memory lane together.