Last week I received my 50 year patch from Lutheridge. Which means, well, I'm old.
It's hard to believe, to be honest. I vividly remember the tether ball championship in 5th grade (Laura Faust cheated, I should add). My first dance at Pioneer B lodge (6th grade) ... dumpster diving in search of my retainer (9th grade) ... breaking my wrist playing volleyball as a counselor ... iconic figures like Papa John, Belvin, Sailor, Pam, and Mama Cline ... getting stuck on Mt. Mitchell with Krista and a slew of middle schoolers during a vicious thunder storm (1997) ... the "hobo Jesus" performances every Thursday night of confirmation camp ... the old Luther Lodge, Friday night Music Week concerts, Capture the Flag at Lakeside (still the best place to play Capture the Flag), life as a WAD, stories of Old Blue and Grey Cabin, the annual Miss Lutheridge contest (why didn't I didn't save my crown?), counselors adding their stars in the PB lounge (mine's a Converse star), dropping my own kids off for camp. The list goes on and on.
Now 68 years old, Lutheridge has been a special place for generations of campers. I'm so very thankful that it remains a vibrant part of the church's ministry -- the perfect training ground for children, youth, and adults. In a nutshell, Lutheridge is Christian formation at its finest.
This summer, Lutheridge welcomes 2,000 campers of all stripes, sizes, and colors. It's not fancy. It doesn't try to "keep up with the Joneses." It just keeps doing what the camp has done for four generations: create space for campers to experience the power of the Holy Spirit.
I'm glad St. John's has been in partnership with Lutheridge since the very beginning. And I'm glad that I get to proudly display my 50 year patch.
Even if it means I'm older than dirt.
