Imagine if you will a group of complete strangers carrying heavy bags, each bent over from the struggle of walking uphill with their individual loads. They look around at one another with interest, but soon their eyes are downcast again and they are consumed with the task of venturing forth with their luggage. Their muscles ache and their foreheads are marked with perspiration, but they press on.
All of a sudden, a song breaks out among them from someone in the group. Slowly each head begins to raise and the words start to flow from each person, as if they had their own cue. They shift the bags on their shoulders, tighten the straps, and dig their heels in deeper as the climb. The song gets louder and they begin to look around at each other with knowing glances and encouraging eyes. Someone loses their footing in the back of the group, and everyone around her pauses to help her up. They continue on and the mountain seems to be getting smaller. The journey they thought would take years is now reduced to a few more steps.
And then they see it…the peak. The people who arrive first turn around to help the others until everyone is standing together at the top. They nod at each other and smile and breathe heavily at the task almost accomplished. Abnd then, one by one, they spread out and begin to drop their heavy bags from their shoulders. The bags slide off easily, with resounding thuds on the earthen floor. And as if rehearsed, every arm is raised, every palm lifted towards Heaven, all eyes closed. The song changes from a hopeful chorus to a victory chant. It rises to the treetops until the birds are disturbed and fly off, not knowing what could be making such a noise. The scattered travelers come closer together until their arms are wrapped around each other. The song continues and reaches its crescendo, and some of the people look down to find all of the bags are gone. None remain to mark the burdens they carried with them, and laughter breaks out. Then the song fades and they all embrace and begin to descend. They walk down together as one, lighter and skipping down the mountain. They know they will meet again on the mountain peak soon, and they have much to do before they reunite. But there are no bags to carry anymore.
That is how I choose to describe training camp to you. People from across the country coming together, each burdened by something, each pressing on through individual struggles in their lives. We found each other on that trek up the mountain, and by the time we got to the top, God had freed us all from what had weighed us down and given us new measures of love for one another. We left training camp with hope practically carrying us down the mountain, each promising to return soon to take on the next adventure. And we walked down as one in Him. Random faces now a family of warriors. God, thank you for training camp.
Oh, and the fortune cookie title does have a meaning, I promise! One day at lunch at the China Buffet, a few of us got blessed by the Lord through fortune cookies! It just goes to show you that God is desperate to speak to His people and can not be boxed in by our limitations. My two “fortunes” read: “Your nuturing instincts will expand to include many people.” and “The world will soon be ready to receive your talents.” He still speaks if we will listen.
