You know those moments where you feel like you are given the chance to see into the future? Maybe when your friends all start having children but you are still childless…you start to think, “Oh so THIS is what it is going to be like.” Perhaps when you watch your father dance with your sister at her wedding and think, “Wow, Dad will probably have that same look on his face when he dances with me at my wedding.” There are definitely moments in life where we take the time to imagine what it will be like when we finally reach our own time. That happened this past weekend for me.
At first it was just a camping trip. Alexa and I decided we wanted to try and link up somewhere relatively easy for both of us to drive. She lives in Indiana (sorry about that misfortune sister) and I live in the BEST state…Virginia (as if I even need to specify). We chose West Virginia and six other Z Squad Mates jumped on board. Taylor, Annaka, Dylan, Ashley & Billy, and Rachel. We had quite the participation that we never expected when we threw the invite out to our squad.
Here are my top 11 things I learned and/or observed over this glorious weekend:
1). It never ONCE felt like we were meeting for the first time even though with the exception of Billy & Ashley who had met both me and Taylor this was exactly the case. None of us had ever met most of the others in person, yet it was the most comfortable situation I could have ever imagined. When I hugged my squad mates I was hugging family and I knew it instantly.
2). Just as Ashley mentioned in her blog my squad mates shattered every expectation I had going in to this weekend. People were entirely different in person than what I thought, and that is in the absolute best way possible. Do not ever assume that you know someone because of a Facebook message or a text thread.
3). Trying to remain on any sort of a Vegan/Gluten Free diet while camping along a river in West Virginia is kind of insane. Fri night everyone ate hotdogs, burgers, and potato salad. I ate a container of lettuce with carrots and strawberries thrown on top. Sat morning Billy made everyone pancakes. Meanwhile, I waited for an hour for water to boil so I could attempt campsite oatmeal. Two different squad mates tried it and they really tried to make me feel okay about the taste. I appreciate the effort y’all.
4). A little Fireball, Jack Daniel’s Honey, and Angry Orchard goes a long way in making personalities truly come out…as do games of Cards Against Humanity and Never Have I Ever.
5). Rachel does not speak unless spoken to…period. I still believe she’s plotting some sort of takeover and she will probably be successful because no one will see it coming. Except me, I see it coming.
6). I am incredibly proud of my squad mates for stepping out of their comfort zones. Painful yet beautiful testimonies, foregoing showers and primping, traipsing through murky river water filled with fish and snakes (yeah I kept that info to myself in the moment), sleeping in small tents next to people we had not met until that night…these are all things I witnessed and my heart grew for each of them as we took on these things together without judgment or ridicule.
7). A relationship blossomed that I never anticipated prior to the weekend. A friend turned into a sister literally overnight. God orchestrated conversations involving subjects that neither of us have ever approached with any other person on this earth and I walked away with an accountability partner and a soul mate. She is the answer to a prayer I had not even formulated.
8). When people with the same goal of living, loving, and serving like Christ come together their bonds are instantly unbreakable. I witnessed continuous Christ-like service throughout the entire weekend. Things as simple as pouring drinks and cooking for each other to as meaningful as gathering around in group hug format and praying for healing and restoration were all aspects of this weekend that filled my heart with joy and a huge desire to continue the trend when I am finally with my squad!
9). Sometimes that vehicle that you decide to dance in front of because you think it’s two squad mates driving up is actually a cop…and your older, wiser squad mate has to bribe him (or scare him off) with Vegan chocolate to get him to leave. You’re welcome.
10). Watching women try to learn the upside down hammock flip is pure entertainment, especially when one of those women is trying to use a second hammock as her stepping off point.
11). Bromances are a VERY real thing with VERY real feelings involved. I highly recommend that you never try to come between a bromance…you will lose.
After a small delay involving a squad mate’s flat tire and upon departing from the campsite my mind began to race with images of the weekend with which I had just been blessed. All I could think over and over was how this was just a taste of what I will have the chance to experience at Training Camp and on the World Race. I know that this weekend with just seven of my squad mates and a 48 hour period was only a glimpse of what I can be a part of in a few short weeks. Then I started to think, “How often do we, as Christians, fail to take full advantage of what our Father has for us?” Why stop at seven squad mates when I can have all 56 of them? Why stop at 48 hours when I can have almost an entire year? Why would we ever choose the bare minimum in anything, especially in our Walk? I chose the bare minimum for far too much of my life and I refuse to ever return to that place of darkness. To Z Squad: Get ready for camp because I can promise each of you that there are 55 others of us that are ready to love you, support you, push you, pull you, drag you, encourage you, and SERVE you in ways you have never experienced.
Yeah. It was just a camping trip.
