Teen Week Heroes

“The world is an uncertain realm, filled with danger. Truth despoiled by broken promises. Honor undermined by the pursuit of gold. Freedom sacrificed when the weak are oppressed by the strong. But there are those who oppose these powerful forces. Those who dedicate their lives to truth, honor, and freedom. They are a constant reminder to all of us. That such a life is not just possible, but necessary to our continued survival.”* These heroes are known as Teen Campers 2010.

            Teen week was filled with incredible young men and women, with people who had the courage to change the world. One young teen camper who struggled with his weight was with his cabin at the rock wall. No one seemed excited. Determined to uphold the enthusiasm of camp, the boy decided he would attempt the seemingly impossible. Through much sweat, diligence, and encouragement from his cabin, the unlikely hero reached the top of the wall. Who would have known that scaling a rock wall would be a proclamation? The teen’s valor was a reminder that it’s not the exterior, but the courage within that makes us heroes.

            Sabbath morning we saw another heroic scene. A boy was afraid he could not participate in the activities of the day. During a vigorous session of BMX, he had hurt his knee, and a hike sounded like a painful experience instead of a peaceful one. However, his cabin decided they wanted him to be a part of their activities. So, out came a stretcher, and though the hike was long and tiring, no one in the cabin minded the extra weight of caring their friend. “No man should be left behind, it just wouldn’t be right,” they said. Putting others before one’s self, that is a true example of greatness.

            Josh was one of those guys who everyone seems to respect. His charismatic aura made him a likeable leader. Popularity can easily get to someone’s head, but Josh didn’t misuse the adoration. Counselors do their best to uphold Christian standards at camp, but often friendly reminders are taken with defensive attitudes and anger, especially during teen camp. So, when in a moment of absentmindedness a kid misused God’s name, staff took a deep breath preparing for the repercussion of addressing the matter. Josh beat them to the punch though, “Hey, we don’t talk like that, okay?” Staff were dumfounded at the response, “Totally my bad, sorry Josh!” It was inspiring to see a camper stand up to his peers for his beliefs. His peers saw him as someone worthy of their respect, a guy not afraid to do what was right, and as an everyday hero.

            Hero. Common first thoughts after hearing the word range from the three musketeers with wars and chivalry, to costumed Spiderman with webs and bravery. I wonder though,  if we have completely skewed the idea of being a hero. Were not we all called…called to stand up, to fight for what is right, and to be noble and courageous for God? Teen camp reminded me of vital a truth- I can be a hero. Each and every one of us is called for something great, we do not need swords or superpowers to make a difference, we have something far superior. All we need is God, with Him in our hearts, we can change the world!

*"The Three Musketeers Movie Script, Trailer and Download at MyMovieScripts.com."

MyMovieScripts.com - Movie Script Database. Web. 02 Aug. 2010. .