In our lives we experience seasons of trial and sorrow, challenges seemingly beyond endurance. This is a reality that all of us, all of mankind, know is true. Yet we often lose our perspective and think that we have it worse than everybody else. During these times, if we are fortunate to be reminded, we are bolstered by community, and most importantly by our faith. We are not in this alone in the flesh nor in the spirit.

Camp Or L’Dor this year so far is the best that I can remember. It is the result of many factors, including fantastic infrastructure led by Rabbi Nathan and Cheryl, with Doxia, Tammie, Mary, Raina, and new volunteer Autumn tirelessly making it all work, not to mention Sid and Jon. Yet this year we have another special gift – unusually amazing campers.

Usually the first week of camp is the time when the campers, and the counselors too, begin to feel comfortable with each other and become a cohesive group. This year this intimacy happened from the beginning, and not just as a result of the core of returning campers. The teens just are an especially loving, vulnerable, transparent group. They want to be here and are thirsting for growth in their relationship with God. The camper and counselor testimonies and campfire talks have already been amazing. As I write this they have not yet even returned from the two night camping adventure. I can only imagine the stories.

So it was beyond all expectations that this year we would experience a joy above all joys, even beyond the blessing of this amazing group of young people . . .

Some of you know our dear friends the Laskos, Rabbi Yahnatan, Kristen, and the amazing super Max. After Max’s major surgery in June we have all been praying that they would be able to accomplish their hoped for summer trip to include the UMJC conference and Camp Or L’Dor! The prayers were answered as not only could they join us for a couple days here, but also, they were our musical entertainment around one of our night’s campfires!! It was truly the best time yet of any campfire in all of our years!

Don’t get me wrong. These are always amazing. We have fantastic camper and counselor singers and musicians, incredible testimonies, glorious fires and s’mores. So why was this one so special?

First and foremost, may I say Max is amazing!!! What a blessing to be able to spend time with him, and of course, his parents too. The night was also special, for we all felt joy through the Lasko family’s music filled with joy! It permeated the surroundings! We were able to feel the power of God’s Love in them, people who have endured scary health challenges with Max that we can only imagine. The love they radiated filled us too.

I’m sure there have been days for them that have felt unbearable. Yet clearly those times have been far outnumbered by days of abounding love, gratitude, miracles, unquestionable knowledge that God is in this with them, will never leave them, will comfort them, will bring them through the hardships. For they have also experienced the light that comes on the other side of those hard days. So they sing with joy, and we felt that.

Somehow, as we all joined in that night, personally, I was blown away by their immense talent and, knowing their story, by evidence of their deep faith. When we know Him, our Creator, and palpably feel the Presence of Yeshua in the here and now, we are strengthened not only in our ability to withstand hardship, but also, in our ability to retain hope.

Through that transformation of despair and fear to faith and hope comes the ability to experience joy in this deepest of ways. This was a lesson we all learned around the campfire that night, one that will continue to strengthen each of us during our own inevitable days of challenge.

We are thankful beyond words that the Laskos brought not only themselves to camp this year, but also, a magnificent evidence of the power of being loved by Him, as we all are. The real challenge is to remember that fact through it all, and to viscerally be able to tap into it even when times are tough.

Our memory of that night’s campfire is the special treasure that was given to each of us there, and to you who read this writing, to help us never to forget His Love of us, and its transformative power, despite life’s challenges, to bring to each of us hope and abounding joy.

Shabbat shalom.

Diane