John 13:31-35
Offered by Sally J. Keiter
At the beginning of every week of Pilgrim Lodge, the week’s group of campers, counselors, and staff gather on the edge of Lake Cobbosseecontee to be officially welcomed to camp. The sun sparkles and glimmers on the smooth surface of the water, mouth-watering smells of pizza and chocolate chip cookies drift down from the kitchen in the lodge, and the atmosphere is one of great excitement for the week ahead. After going over ground rules, and introducing the counselors and summer staff, camp director, Bryan Breault, gets up to speak. Bryan tells us that there are just three simple things that he would like us to do during our time at camp, and that if we do these tasks, then there is no reason why our week at camp won’t be anything less than amazing. “Just three things!” He tells us, “Love God, love yourself, and love each other.”
Task One: Love God. It’s not always easy to love God. Amidst a world in turmoil, where there is war, threats, poverty, starvation, intolerance, and so much more, it’s often hard to find God. I know it can be difficult to find God in my day to day life, and it’s very hard to feel overwhelming love for something that I can’t always quite find. While finding and loving God may not be easy while I go about my daily activities, the same is not true for the time that I spend at Pilgrim Lodge. From the moment the car tires turn and crunch on the dirt of Pilgrim Lodge Lane, I can feel myself get calmer, as I feel the presence of God in all of my surroundings. Bryan likes to explain this feeling by saying that PL is a ‘thin place’; a place where the divide between heaven and earth is not as thick, so that a divine presence can truly be felt. I could not agree with his statement more. When I’m sitting in the PL chapel with friends on the rough wooden benches, joyfully lifting my voice in song, feeling the wind stir the branches above my head, looking out to the birch tree cross, and the fiery sunset reflected in the lake, I have a very powerful feeling of God moving in that strikingly beautiful place. It’s simple to love God, and fulfill Bryan’s first task, when God is so easily found.
Task Two: Love Yourself. With social stigmas – like this music, wear these clothes, act this way – it can often be hard to express and love ourself for who we truly are inside. At Pilgrim Lodge, we are encouraged to be ourselves, and not feel forced into being or acting or looking a certain way. In the PL community, you do not have to be perfect, which is a nice break for a perfectionist like myself. At PL, imperfections are just as beautiful as strengths. Often in family group time, sometimes in the middle of the labyrinth or just during a session in the lodge or on the boardwalk, we are able to discuss our flaws, the parts of us that we do not find easy to love, as well as the parts of us that we are proud of. And no matter what is shared, the person doing the sharing has incredible support all around them. Which leads me to Task Three: Love Each Other.
The Pilgrim Lodge community is probably the most accepting and nonjudgemental group that I have ever met or been a part of. During my seven summers there, I have met a wide variety of people, from those affected by mental challenges, to those of every sexual orientation, those struggling with their religion and what they believe, those fighting eating disorders, those recovering from drug problems, and so many more. And the best thing is that at PL, none of that matters. Everyone is supportive, and unconditionally loves everyone else, no matter their story or past. We sing a song in chapel with the lyrics: “How could anyone ever tell you, you are anything less than beautiful? How could anyone ever tell you, you are less than whole?” and these words really embody the notion that everyone is beautiful and special and loved at PL. When I walk down the PL boardwalk I am greeted with hugs and smiles from a wide variety of people who will love and accept me no matter what, just as I will love and accept them. Pilgrim Lodge is seriously the easiest place to be ourselves, because we know that we will be loved regardless of pretty much anything. And that’s just fulfilling what Jesus said in today’s scripture – have love for one another.
At the end of the week of camp, everyone gathers together once more in a closing circle, where we are commissioned to go out into the world and share and spread what we have learned at camp. We somewhat reluctantly leave the protected bubble we’ve spent the last week in and step once more into the brokenness of civilization once more. However, this time we enter with the memories and experiences from an almost utopian place, and we carry all of the love we soaked up ,during our time of camp, back into society. And this love is like a burning talisman inside, carrying us through the year. We reach out to people with a helping hand, we spread the lessons of PL to those around us with our love. You see, Pilgrim Lodge is not just a place, but a state of mind. And anyone, literally everyone can, as we like to say “Live Pilgrim Lodgically”, just by giving Bryan Breault’s three tasks a good effort. It’s as simple as love. Love God, love yourself, and love each other – that is what Pilgrim Lodge, and life, is truly all about.