Breaking the Noise is something that has been on our hearts many months before Summer 2017 will even start. Sarah took some time to share her thoughts. You don’t want to miss this read.
It is officially one month until summer camp begins and my desk is a mess. You know the kind right? Stacks of papers in not so neat piles, at least three half completed “to-do” lists covered with bright multi-colored highlighters, obnoxious sticky notes posted all around to grab my attention, and of course, pieces of yesterday’s granola bar sprinkled throughout the chaos. On top of my messy granola filled desk, my brain has officially hit “oh my goodness summer is right around the corner” mode. Which consist of a million different questions and things to remember to do flying through my head faster than my pen can write. I’m not going to lie, it’s overwhelming.
So overwhelming in fact, I had to step away. That’s how I ended up at the creek. Yep, that’s right, while I’m writing this post you’re reading I’m sitting on a rock with my toes in the creek. Why am I at the creek freezing my toes off instead of getting the day old granola off my most recent to do list? I’ll tell you.
About a week ago I was in the middle of a busy day where it took everything out of me just to keep up. After a long morning and early afternoon of summer preparations I was meeting with one of our camp pastor’s for this summer about our theme, Noise. While we were meeting and discussing Noise we talked about how Jesus often left the crowds that followed Him and “withdrew to lonely places to pray”. In the midst of His ministry, sharing the good news of His father, Jesus would press pause, break away, and go spend time with God in prayer away from everything.
This time that Jesus withdrew was crucial to His ministry. Think about it, Jesus’s “to-do list” probably made my granola filled desk look like a joke. He had thousands following him every day. I wonder if he ever got tired of hearing his name or felt like he couldn’t keep up with the questions being thrown his way. If he ever felt like he didn’t have enough time to accomplish everything he knew he needed to do.
That’s when it hit me. If Jesus had to step away from it all, break the noise surrounding him, to retreat to pray, then I most certainly need to do the same. That brings me to today and the creek.
I grew up attending this camp and playing in Matthew’s Creek. I have so many amazing memories by this stream of water, as I’m sure anyone who has spent any time at Asbury Hills has. I love sticking my toes in the water, regardless the season and feeling the cool water embrace me. Best part of coming to the creek? It’s quiet. The only noise is that of nature. God’s creation in its purest, simplest form. The creek is my quiet place to withdraw from the to-do list, email notifications, ringing phones, and to connect with Jesus, tell Him thank you and pray.
I needed to break the noise today and come to the creek to pray. Just as God came to Elijah on the mountain in the still quiet, I find him in the cold calm water of the creek. Gently whispering that He is in this place and has His hand on summer and on my life. And if I will just be still, listen, and be willing to let my toes get a little cold, He will provide.
Maybe your life is loud right now. Between school, work, social events, sporting events, kids’ schedules, meetings, and just trying to have a social life, it all can get overwhelming. In the world we live in it can be easy to become caught up in everyday life. I hope you take some time today to find your creek and break the noise.
–SARAH MOSELEY, Summer Camp Director
Asbury Hills Camp 