“He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” –Acts 17:27
I’ve done this before. Day camp with Sky Ranch in the inner-city neighborhoods of South Dallas is something I’ve been through before. Granted, it was a year ago, but still–the fact remains that I should’ve expected the exhaustion that would’ve come with this week. Launch Camp in itself wears you out in a way that’s unique to any other job I’ve ever had before, but TRU Camp (which is what we call our sites in the inner-city; where kids from urban areas can learn what is the real and constant truth in Jesus), man, it hits you on another level. And sometimes, it literally physically hits you.
Fights are common. Violence is not unusual, which is why I shouldn’t have been surprised when one of my campers hauled back to smack his fellow camper on the cheek at 110%, but I was. I shouldn’t have been surprised to see the camper who received the slap go straight to retaliation mode with blinders on so strong, he kicked, bit, and punched every leadership person who tried to calm him down, including the sweet lady who runs the center where we’re holding camp this week, but I was.
Logic says I should expect this from these kids. No, more accurately, Satan says I should expect this from these kids.
Satan calls them, “these” kids. As if they’re any different.
But you know what Jesus sees? His children, surrounded by a world that contains an entire crowd nearly full of people who don’t love them like they need. He sees children who have been born into a situation they can’t control, but simply want love, attention, and a friend who cares for them like Jesus does.
To people, it doesn’t make sense why we would go into this week with arms and hearts wide open to receive literal punches to the nose or bites on the arm and most likely never see the fruit of our efforts.
But to Jesus, and to those who follow Him, it makes perfect sense.
He was beaten. He was mocked–scorned by the very ones He came to save. And yet, He chose to endure that suffering willingly. Why? Because He knew the end of the story. He knew Who won it all at the end. He knew that His suffering would bring life to the people of the world.
While our struggles at TRU Camp sites are not anywhere close to the craziness that went down on the cross and during the events that led up to it, it’s a beautiful picture of what Jesus has done for us. I am so happy to have been counted part of His chosen few to speak this truth to these kids, and to be blessed enough for them to speak just as much back into mine, even if they don’t know they’re doing it.
The kids I’ve met at TRU Camp sites hold a special place in my heart. In the midst of such tragic and heartbreaking events happening around our country in cities like Ferguson, Baltimore, and now New Orleans and even here in Dallas, just minutes from these precious kiddos’ front doors, the Lord has seen fit to place us right smack in the middle of it all to show these kids and in turn their families who He really is and what His love looks like in action.
Y’all pray for these sweet children. Pray that as we sit down with them today to talk about what Jesus looks like in each of their lives uniquely that they have open hearts, minds, and an eager curiosity to know more about Him. May they reach out and find Him, and discover He is not far from any of us.
Ty Hirsch 