Lessons From Children (2)

I was crawling on my hands and knees through the dew-covered grass, making sure to stay in the shadows of the trees created by the full moon. My body was covered with black clothing, and the searching campers couldn't see me. I didn't make a sound. I was moving slowly through the darkness towards my goal: making it to a staff station to collect a coveted number. 90+ campers were looking for a few staff members like myself running through camp under the cover of night. I had taken 15 minutes to go around the gaga pit, behind the PMG cabins, behind the retreat center, and down towards waterfront. I was getting closer to my goal.

I was curled up next to a tree because a group of older campers were walking past. They veered towards my tree (high school guys and girls trying to stay away from people so they could hang out), and it was only a matter of time before they would be able to see me. I became tense, ready to take off. When they got within about 5 yards of me, they said: 'is that a counselor? Yes it is!" and I took off. I started running towards the parking lot, but a group of kids appeared from behind the trees. I turned on a dime and started running towards the lodge, stumbling a couple times in low areas that I couldn't see.

For every camper I dropped, two more came out in front of me. Many were screaming 'counselor! counselor!' and as I came near the playing field and the lightpole, my movements were illuminated, and kids started to swarm. I knew I couldn't make it to the safe staff station at the chapel or amphitheater, so I scoured the area looking for stations. I saw three people sitting at a picnic table ahead of me. I continued sprinting that way until I finally reached it, avoiding being tagged the whole way. My breathing was heavy and my legs were tired, but I made it.

I looked up and saw three younger girl campers looking at me. I deflated. "This isn't a station?" I barely squeaked out. "Nope!" they said, and tagged me right there. I turned around and saw all the happy camper faces. WE GOT NATE! The girls were ecstatic as they brought me to the jail, telling me all about how they had tricked me into thinking that was a station.

At first I was angry. I, as the fastest person at camp, had clearly defeated all of the campers even though they were EVERYWHERE, and yet here I go to the jail. It was ridiculous.

Then I was humiliated. I, as the fastest person at camp, had clearly defeated all of the campers even though they were EVERYWHERE, and yet here these 9 year old girls were escorting me to the jail. It was ridiculous.

One of the girls then said to me: "Why are you so quiet? Are you tired?" I snapped back to reality. These girls were enjoying themselves and excited, and here I was wrapped up in my selfish thoughts in a game that was relatively unimportant. I was so worried about my wasted time and tactics that I forgot the most important part of the game: the kids. I realized that for these kids, the invincible counselor image gets old after a while. The counselor that always wins at gaga, runs faster, and does everything better is not fun. For these girls, their day was made because they caught Nate. It was something for them to brag about, and they'll remember it. I realized that overall, the a good thing for camper morale is to see me escorted to jail, because it meant that they did it- they caught me.

Good life reminder today: often the best thing for another person is not the same as the best thing for you. Which will you choose?

Have a Great Day!