Waterfront Director Tatianna with Duncan the Duck
If you’ve been to Crystal Lake Camps you know that there is nothing better than waking up in the morning to the lake, beautifully covered in fog, watching the sun touch the trees and the grass covered with dew. As Waterfront Director this summer, those were the types of mornings when I was reminded of how blessed I was to be able to call the lake my “office.” For me, the lake is so much more than a view, but rather a place of healing, growth, and pure joy. I witnessed the way God’s reflection is manifested in the lake, a true expression of Love, harmony, and peace. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mrs. Eddy says, “As a drop of water is one with the ocean, a ray of light one with the sun, even so God and man, Father and son, are one in being.” (361)
I felt that unity of God and man so many times throughout the summer as I watched campers and counsellors enjoy the water. One of my favorite memories from the summer was during a boating class. My brother and I decided to try standing up on a paddle board together, wobbling and laughing as we repeatedly got about half way up and fell right back over again. The amazing moment occurred right after one of our failed attempts to stand up – as I sat on the board trying to steady it for him, I looked around. There were swimming classes in the deep and shallow end, boaters around the lake, and our newest addition to the CLC family, Duncan the Duck, all enjoying simply being on the lake. I noticed something so beautiful in that moment: we were all different ages, from different places and different backgrounds, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that we were all expressing our God-given joy, and most importantly we were doing it together, all united as His children.
This was truly “proof of God’s great love for me,” as my favorite line from camp’s theme song “Symbol of Serenity” reminds us. As I looked around at all this Love being expressed I was immensely grateful for camp and all the blessings it has given me over the years. Reflecting on my last ten years at CLC seemed to be manifested in that moment. I’ve met my best friends at camp, gotten to learn about other cultures, witnessed innumerable healings, and most importantly strengthened my relationship with God and Christian Science. I was “holding thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true,” which camp has given me (Science and Health, 261).
Thinking back on this moment and the thousands of other incredible memories of my summer on the lake reminds me that all of the Love and joy I felt in that moment I can still feel right now, even from hundreds of miles away. The overwhelming presence of Love is just as much with me now as it was as I hilariously watched my brother plummet into the lake and saw all of the smiling faces around me. As we all start off our school or work years, we can think back to those foggy lake mornings and feel revitalized by Spirit, knowing that the Love of camp is with us every second of our day.
Share this Post