Choose Joy: It's the little things

Thank you Lauren P from Arlington, TX for this great blog!

The little things in life, that’s what it is all about. Over and over we are told we should be aware of and thankful for the little joys that happen daily, but if you are anything like me that is easier said than done. I am quick to celebrate big accomplishments, special dates, exciting news; yet, I tend to struggle with negativity towards the everyday. I know that there is joy to be found in every aspect of our lives, but I often need a reminder, that is where Capernaum comes into play.

My friends never cease to amaze me when it comes to the incredible joy that they experience in life. This is not to say that Capernaum doesn’t come with behaviors, grumpy attitudes, and the general emotions of every human being, but overall, I have learned more about joy from Capernaum friends, leaders, and staff than I have from any other group of people. I could list story after story of times that my friends have demonstrated joy in the struggle, grace beyond belief, and how to be a friend to all people, but what stands out the most for me is a trip home from camp where everything went wrong.

We left Carolina Point with just enough time to make it to the airport in time to board, but instead our bus broke down an hour and a half outside of Brevard. No big deal, we think, we’ll be up and running in no time. Wrong. We unload, leaders make a human chain to block the highway and safely move our friends to the shade. At this point we are certain we will miss our flights...hours pass...our friends are hungry, we are tired (think last day of camp TIRED) , and there is no new bus coming.

People stop, bring snacks, water, anything and everything that makes sitting on the roadside bearable. After about four and half hours the bus turns on! It won’t have a/c and can’t go far, but it makes it to Chick-Fil-A and to a bowling alley. If there is anything I know about Capernaum it is that we can bowl for days!

Throughout this time, I complained, cried, called parents, complained some more, but my Capernaum friends remained solid, unwavering sources of encouragement. Other areas called asking if there was anything they could do from afar. Leaders back home texted words of encouragement and prayer over the remainder of the trip. A committee family rerouted their trip home from vacation to meet us and help us with supplies.

We ended up missing all flights that night and stayed in a hotel near the airport praying we would find 55 flights home for the next day, longshot, we know. Our committee family brought us a healthy dinner (that accommodated all of the dietary restrictions), bought diapers, gloves, pedialyte, snacks, *caffeine*, and any other thing that would hold us over for the next 24 hours.

With no flights available, we rented a twelve passenger van and hit the road bright and early. Once again, zero complaints from our friends. Fourteen hours in the van, not enough sleep, dirty gas stations, and SO much McDonald’s, still joy. Singing along to songs, talking about how much fun it is to roadtrip and how they’ve never been on a roadtrip with their friends. As leaders we were receiving venmo payments to help us pay for meals, gas, caffeine, all things that are necessary when driving cross country. To this day I can’t imagine what that trip would have looked like without the support of other Capernaum folks. Upon arriving in Dallas, a volunteer leader from an area that flew back brought us dinner. An area director called to check in and make sure everything was okay. Parents celebrated their babies being back. JOY.

When I think back to that trip and talk with the friends that were stuck with me for fourteen hours it is 100% positive. They reminisce about the group picture at the highway marker, the fun music, and which leader is the worst driver. They don’t think about how they could have been home, in their own bed, instead of crammed into a hotel room on a pullout couch. Often, I am asked how that camp experience compares to other, less eventful years, and it surprises people when I say it was one of my favorites. Experiencing a roadtrip with my best friends, tube feeding on the side of the road, and changing diapers at a rest stop in Louisiana, who gets to say they have done those things?!?? Capernaum leaders.

Whether it is the fact that we let everyone get a soda, that we sang loudly to our favorite songs, or chanted about Hayden being a bad driver, the entire trip is filled with the little things. I see pictures from those two days and overflow with gratitude to the leaders, the committee, the staff, and most importantly to our friends who could have been angry and negative, but instead, choose joy because it’s the little things in life.