discipleship

This is the 3rd summer that Rob has taken our oldest son with him to help out with luggage at camp on the weekends. They spend several hours each Sunday carrying the campers' trunks and suitcases from their cars to their cabins. And then on Saturdays from the cabins back to the cars. It is hard, hot, dirty work. But I have never seen two people who are more fulfilled than they are when they come home exhausted, smiling, and soaked in sweat.

The first summer, they had to team up on the trunks, each one carrying one side. But apparently boys grow really quickly. By the next summer Noah had grown enough to carry a trunk on his own. I don't know if I've ever seen him more proud of anything.

Today as I was waiting to take them home, one last camper arrived, meaning one more trunk and duffle bag had to be delivered. I watched as Noah struggled with this bag and it's cumbersome weight. After several attempts to adjust it and be able to get it the couple hundred yards to its destination, I saw a staffer come over to rescue him. But instead of taking the bag from Noah, or even sharing the load with him, he simply showed him a better way to carry it on his own.

What a beautiful picture of discipleship.

Young men especially don't need to be rescued from trials or hard work, but they do need older men to show them the ropes. Sometimes they will need help to carry the load, but as they mature they will need help with HOW to carry the load. (And an occasional reminder to drink plenty of water.)