The Bubble

I just spent last week volunteering as a counselor at Camp Lambec without internet connection, air-conditioning, a comfortable bed and with terrible cell phone reception.

It was awesome.

There is something so blissful about being away from technology for awhile. If there was an emergency, someone could have gotten a hold of me. But, to not daily check my email, facebook, the news and whatever else I find myself surfing toward was simply lovely. It was a content little bubble that I was living in for seven days.

Now, back to reality.

In the real world, it is much harder to just be still and know God. Instead of hearing the wind blowing through the trees and the waves crashing on the beach, I hear the hum of the air-conditioner and the sound of the appliances running. In place of deep discussions in Bible study with the oldest campers, I find myself constantly interrupted by my small children (seriously, I have had to break up three fights in the course of writing this post).

Perhaps that is part of the magic to camp. We can constantly be surrounded by opportunities to grow, reflect, learn, and feel like we are doing something important. In reality, we are just like everyone else and life just keeps on moving at its typical, fast pace.

As much as I love the bubble, I am also grateful to be home. Not just because the air-conditioning has brought back my ankles that disappeared at camp thanks to the heat and constant walking (pregnancy is fun), but because of these little creatures that are currently driving me crazy.

I may not feel like I am doing something important in my daily life, but I know I am where I am supposed to be right now. I might not get thank-you notes from my kids for my time spent with them, or see an immediate result of my love and sacrifice, but it is always worth it. I will take them over the bubble any day.