Marla Coleman: The value of summer camp | SummitDaily.com

Thousands of my colleagues across the nation will attest to the power of camp. No grades. No permanent records. Just authentic connections to the real world. Play is the work of childhood; it's how children invent and re-invent themselves, find their place in the universe, and learn what they are good at and where they need to practice. Life is the quintessential test tomorrow's leaders need to pass.
via summitdaily.com

I love this and the rest of this post on what camps can teach schools. Every kid deserves to learn the lessons of camp. School can be that place. In my case I keep my physics room filled with physics stuff to play with. I ask students to explore their world and try to teach them how to do that well, because they will be doing that the rest of their lives.

In short I have spent a educational career trying to bring camp to the classroom, because it is the most effective way to teach for real learning.

This Is The Day

I led this chapel, "This Is The Day" on December 7, 2009 at HCHS. The insight into the passage and the repeat after me format is a complete rip off from a friend who spoke this summer at Camp Roger. The words are from my students, anonymously. I chickened out in front of the audience and said purity instead of virginity.

Psalm 118 (NIV)

 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; 
       his love endures forever.

 2 Let Israel say: 
       "His love endures forever."

 3 Let the house of Aaron say: 
       "His love endures forever."

 4 Let those who fear the LORD say: 
       "His love endures forever."

 5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD, 
       and he answered by setting me free.

 6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. 
       What can man do to me?

 7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper. 
       I will look in triumph on my enemies.

 8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD 
       than to trust in man.

 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD 
       than to trust in princes.

 10 All the nations surrounded me, 
       but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

 11 They surrounded me on every side, 
       but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

 12 They swarmed around me like bees, 
       but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; 
       in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

 13 I was pushed back and about to fall, 
       but the LORD helped me.

 14 The LORD is my strength and my song; 
       he has become my salvation.

 15 Shouts of joy and victory 
       resound in the tents of the righteous: 
       "The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!

 16 The LORD's right hand is lifted high; 
       the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"

 17 I will not die but live, 
       and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

 18 The LORD has chastened me severely, 
       but he has not given me over to death.

 19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; 
       I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

 20 This is the gate of the LORD 
       through which the righteous may enter.

 21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; 
       you have become my salvation.

 22 The stone the builders rejected 
       has become the capstone;

 23 the LORD has done this, 
       and it is marvelous in our eyes.

 24 This is the day the LORD has made; 
       let us rejoice and be glad in it.

 25 O LORD, save us; 
       O LORD, grant us success.

 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. 
       From the house of the LORD we bless you.

 27 The LORD is God, 
       and he has made his light shine upon us. 
       With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession 
       up to the horns of the altar.

 28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks; 
       you are my God, and I will exalt you.

 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; 
       his love endures forever.

Repeat After Me

I need your help with chapel today. I need you all to finish this line when I start it.

Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.
[practice until they get it right]

The Good

You have probably heard this phrase a hundreds times. On Sunday in church, in chapel right here. In class or devotions somewhere. I am sure that many of us sang the song in battle of who could be louder with the other half of the room in Sunday school. And sometimes it is so easy to say:
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Just being able to be with friends- they can turn my whole day around and make it so much better- they can make me laugh at anytime.
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

The day when we were at regional for MIFA One-Act and they announced that Holland Christian had won the competition. All of the excitement and tears of joy we all shared is something that will bring me joy for my entire life. When I see others around me succeed in theater. We work together and perform together as a family - it's an irreplaceable blessing in my life.

Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

When I actually got an A- on a math test. That was one of the best days of my life.
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Giving money to the Children of Hope and watching the Children's Choir come to our school to sing. 
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Teachers understanding and flexibility. Seriously.
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

When I just figured out that Christmas break is 2 weeks long this year and that I graduate in May and then am forever done with high school... awesome!! 
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Being on the Podium at  the state meet for swimming.
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

The day that my now best friend invited me to sit with them at lunch. Those moments have brought me happiness and have helped me through many times. Without them the friendship and who I am today may not be here. 
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

The tug of war battle over the mud pit (biology pond) my freshman year. 
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Someone put this in the wrong place in the form. CAPA.
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

These are actual quotes from actual students. I did not make them up, I had them submit them in a Google Form. I would suggest that we are in the season that this phrase was made for. God humbled himself to be a human child and we wait in expectation of the day of his arrival.
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

The Bad

But then this summer a friend pointed out the rest of the Psalm to me. Listen to some of these verses.

 5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD, 
 10 All the nations surrounded me, 
 13 I was pushed back and about to fall, 

Anguished, surrounded, pushed back, about to fall. None of that sounds good. Some days it is practically impossible to say:
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Watching my friends say snide comments behind each others backs. 
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

When some of my friends were chosen to be part of a team, but I wasn't- at times you can feel very excluded. 
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

When my boyfriend broke up with me. 
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

In my sophomore year I experienced three different and very significant deaths... the worst for me was my grandfather, he was an amazing man and the best grandpa. I will forever miss him... and the tragedies that happened in my sophomore year will always be in my mind. 
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

People lying to me. It is easy to find out that they lie....
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Having to find where you fit in. It is a really hard process. 
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

My grandpa is getting older, and we are really starting to be able to see the effects of his age. It's hard to watch. 
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Injustice from friends or teachers. 
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Watching my parents relationship fall apart.
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

When my Dad died.
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Hearing that one of my classmates has never had a birthday cake before. I had never thought about being thankful for cake before.
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Personal Responsibility

Listen to one more verse.
 18 The LORD has chastened me severely, 
       but he has not given me over to death. 

Its even worse! Some of the pain in life we created and need to be corrected. Ouch. The only thing good about the situation is that God did not take our life. Some days it feels like we do not even deserve to say:
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Bad grades.
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Getting in a car accident and having to tell your mom (you are screwed).
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Fights with friends.
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Losing my virginity.
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

How Can We Keep Saying This?

Twenty years ago this Christmas week my Grandpa died. Two weeks ago Saturday Bob died. Bob was a good friend, the first time I have lost a good friend to death. In the 20 years between those deaths I have made decisions plenty of times and been thrust into plenty of other situations where it felt impossible to say:
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

But 2000 years ago Jesus said
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

and because of his life and love for me I can muster the strength and courage each day to say
Me:    This is the day the LORD has made
You:    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Let's Pray

Blessed are we who come in the name of the LORD. 
       From this house of the LORD we bless you.

You, LORD are God, 
       and you have made your light shine upon us. 
       With boughs in hand, we join in the festal procession 
       up to the horns of the altar.

You are our God, and we will give you thanks; 
       you are our God, and we will exalt you.

We Give thanks to you LORD, for you are good; 
       and your love endures forever.