Steve Sikes Blog  

Last Friday-Monday (Memorial weekend 2010) was my first time at Family Camp.  There were over 50 families at Manatawny, plus a host of cooks, helpers, and other guests who showed up for the devotionals.  It was encouraging being with several of our own Pitman clan: the Pearl, Rinne and Vander Vennen families! 

Family Camp consisted of parents and a lot of kids, waist-high or less, running around, riding big wheels and bicycles, as well as horses and daddies’ backs.  These youngsters were just like you and me at that age – full of energy, wanting to go swimming and canoeing in the creek, hiking, water-balloon fighting, and ever-ready for roasting hotdogs & s’mores at the nightly campfires.  The kids continually talked about games, sports, canteen, pets, etc…..all but “Michael.”

I discovered that Michael is an “old soul.”  Michael is only eight years old chronologically, but this belies his conversational age of at least 50!  Michael just couldn’t keep from talking about his favorite subject – religion!  He shared about his family being Catholic, going to Mass, what he was learning in school, and about his wanting to be a priest someday.  I felt like I was sitting next to a young, 15th Century “Luther.”

In one of our religious conversations, Michael shared several quotes from his favorite saint (St. Francis of Assisi) and asked me who my favorite saint was.  Without hesitating, I replied, “Saint Patti.”  My answer startled him.  He hadn’t heard of Saint Patti.  I told him that she was my wife and best friend and that she was already a saint in God’s eyes. We discussed Paul’s introduction to 1 Corinthians and Peter’s writings in 1 Peter 2 about all Christians being saints and priests.  Michael thought for a moment and then moved on to another religious topic.

At the end of camp, I gave Michael my business card and e-mail address and encouraged our keeping in contact in the future.  His mother was thrilled that Michael and I had become “buddies” but no more thrilled or convicted than “yours truly” that God has great plans in mind for this youngster – created in His image and desperately craving for spiritual bread and drink.

The prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Because I was at Family Camp last Sunday, I missed our own teenage young men’s preaching, praying and leading our church family in communion.  I heard it was so encouraging!  Amen.

Dear, Parent: Who knows?  You may have another Joseph or Ruth or John the Baptist eating breakfast cereal at your table and asking questions.  Listen well—plant, water and weed wisely.  The fruit is on the way!  God is good!  Mr. Steve