I rarely take the time to write at camp.

I know I should- I should pause, still myself and take a breath and look around.

For me camp is giving out every last piece of who are to the kids. It’s piling layer upon laying of sunscreen on myself and logging 20,000+ steps. It’s saying yes and yes and yes again.

It could be in the form of helping lug something upstairs or walking from the chapel to the dining hall and back again because counselors need another human to walk with them.

Camp to me is sitting outside the bathroom in the mornings watching campers go in and out and in and out so their counselors can go get coffee.

But, tonight as my friend Tyler was leading communion and reading from psalm 23 something hit me.

Now, I’ve read that psalm multiple times, memorized it with kiddos and even taught it at camp five years ago.

As he read it tonight the words “He restores my soul” caused my throat to get a little scratchy and caused phrases to pour out of my mind.

Because, yes, this week is about the kids. It’s my most favorite, hardest, hilarious and tiring week of the year and it’s all about the kids.

Today, I realized something beautiful.

This week, every year, without fail- he restores my soul.

I come tired, wearied, and feeling as if I have nothing to give but the moment I set foot on this campus: He restores my soul.

I felt it the moment I opened the car door and felt it seep down to my toes.

It took my back to each year and the memory and feeling.

I’ve always known this week brings me life and laughter and joy.

But this week He brings me back to a piece of myself that I forget about.

He reminds me of stories that need to be told and stories that have already been written.

He helps me take a deep breath and he restores parts of me I thought not able to fixed.

Now, I write all these things for three reasons:

One is to remind you to think of us this week, as we keep going and going and going for the kids.

One is for me to remind myself of the feeling of hope that lives here.

And lastly again, for you to remember to find the things that piece you back together and fill your nooks and crannies.

Whatever it is that restores your soul find and keep it.

Deep breaths to the toes my friends.

And to my friends at camp: let’s do this.