“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

Isaiah 49:19

Over the past summer, I attended a music camp (Lutheran Summer Music) at Valparaiso University in Indiana. This was by far the longest that I had been away from home, so we decided that I would go for a half session (2 weeks), and if after a week I wanted to stay, I could extend to the full session (4 weeks). Well, as Thursday became Friday, and Friday became Saturday, I started to think about extending to the full session. After all, I had made some good friends (that I still talk with), all of the teachers and the professors were amazing, and the food for being at a college campus cafeteria was five stars and beyond.

But at the same time, I was having some doubts about staying for a full month. To me, a 13-year-old going into 8th grade, that was 1/3 of my summer. So I took this approach; I would avoid the student dean at all costs, and pass off the question in all hopes that someone would decide for me. Well as it got to Monday, I had to decide. I had my camp counselor texting me asking if I was going to stay, and finally, on the twitch of a moment (thank you God for that twitch!), I said that I would stay. I instantly regretted it, and that feeling ended about 30 seconds later.

When I finally told my friends that I would be staying for the full 4 weeks, we were all super excited. There were a few bumps in the road, as I only had half of the schedule and didn't know what I was going to do in the second 2 weeks, and I suddenly had to do more laundry, and I had my mom mail me some more snacks to have on hand for snacking at 11 pm, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions that I have made in a while.

I grew in my faith even more in the amazing chapel at Valparaiso University, where we had morning and evening chapel, and full sung liturgy on Sunday, and I even got to be a worship assistant and wear some of the cool traditional robes. Through this experience, I learned that the more that you try new things and aren’t afraid to leave the comfort of home, some amazing things can happen. Just like the song, “All Things Are Possible”.

Prayer: Dear Lord, when we focus on You and know that all things are possible through You, we can do amazing things and have amazing experiences. Please grant us the power, courage, and mental strength to do the amazing things that You have planned for us. In Your name we pray, Amen.