Lessons from the camp

It was the last day of the summer camp. We were all excited to go home. My heart was bursting with happy memories. I gathered my things and put them in a borrowed duffel bag. I was anxious that it wouldn’t be able to carry all my stuff as I bought a lot of souvenir items.

We hauled our bags to where the buses were waiting for us. Then I noticed the seams of my bag giving way to the weight of my things. Whoa! What should I do? I panicked!

Just then, my fellow campers came to the rescue. Someone offered a sturdy rope to tie around my bag. Another came with a big needle and thread to stitch my bag. With their help, my bag survived the trip back to our home in Calapan.

That experience taught me these life lessons: 1) Travel light so you’ll have space for others in your life; and 2) Life can break you at times, but be humble enough to receive healing love from others.

Jesus asks us not just to live simply; He also tells us that by living a simple life – having only what we need – we open our hearts to His grace, to His love, to His providence, just like what I experienced at the camp.

You are the God of

abundance, Lord. You are always there to give us not just Your love but Your provision as well. Thank you,

Jesus!

Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3 Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6

Matthew 10:7-13

(or Matthew 5:1-12)