The Hidden Miracle

On Saturday, I had a bunk party for my daughter's bunk. This was our last weekend together, so after morning prayers, they all came to the air-conditioned lobby of the building that I live in. It has been really hot and humid at camp, so the air-conditioning was a real treat in and of itself. Twenty kids and three counselors sat around and did not touch the food I had put out. They waited patiently for almost a half hour while we talked before partaking of the food. To witness twenty 14-year-olds sitting in front of bowls of barbecued chips, Twizzlers, M&M's, Kettle Corn, and Cheeze Its and refrain from eating....a small miracle!

But wait, there's more! I am a big believer in finding meaning in everything, so this had to be a meaningful get-together. My main agenda in having the girls over was to get to know them a bit better. My daughter video chats with these girls all year long, and I barely know any of them. Here was my opportunity to see who she has kept company with for two months a year for the last three years.

I wanted to direct the conversation so that I would quickly learn about each girl. So I asked them to announce their name, where they were from, and one thing they learned in camp this summer.

The answers I got to my question about their summer learning take-aways blew me away. One girl said that she learned to meditate on her food, to really look at it, think about where it came from, and chew it slowly in order to appreciate the food more and elevate her eating. Another said she learned to meditate to alleviate pain. One remarked about her new belief that things will pass, and to be hopeful for a better outcome when she is stressed. I got a few funny answers, such as, "I learned to love milk! I don't know why, but I just love it! I can't get enough of it!"

I shared with them what I learned this summer, many of which I have been blogging about. My biggest learning though, I think, was that change brings good things and small miracles. If I hadn't changed to the art department from the ceramics room, I would never have gotten to know so many wonderful counselors and kids. The relationships I formed this summer are small treasures. I told them that I might never have introduced my art and meditation prayer group had I been in the ceramics room. Many of the girls in this bunk had attended these sessions and they were my most open and deep group of all. They all expressed how meaningful the sessions were for them, too. I told them how polite, kind, and smart they were. I love how they think, and how open they have become. I love seeing their growth from emerging adolescents to young adults in three short years. I told them that I worked in several other camps, but that this camp had the most polite and sweet kids and counselors. They then snarfed down the food in a matter of minutes, thanked me profusely, and left.

So, what began as a way to connect with the girls ended up being much deeper and more meaningful than I could have imagined. I am grateful for the small miracles that happened at this bunk party. And that my daughter has such wonderful friends!

What hidden miracles are you experiencing?