We just finished a week of New Life’s Kids Camp. It’s that week-long crazy madness with kids of all ages, all kinds of activities, and sleep deprivation. As a short-term former children’s pastor, I remember these weeks well. Weeks of planning finally all pays off as hundreds of kids descend on the campus. This year’s camp brought back many memories of watching my mom lead Vacation Bible School for four decades, my stint leading VBS as a pastor in Indiana, and now serving as a small group leader at Kids Camp at New Life.

While my mind and body are exhausted, I know that there are others on the New Life Kids team that have poured weeks and hours into making this year’s event even more successful. Even in the midst of the weariness, I find myself laying here on the couch feeling fully satisfied. As I reflected on the week and scrolled through the myriad of social media posts of the events of the week, I had this overwhelming sense of gratitude. Gratitude and this sense that together we did something amazing. As a pastor and church coach, I often highlight the importance of serving. At New Life, it’s one of our three “main things” — worship, connect, SERVE. There is something very significant that happens in our lives as we give. Whether it’s our time, energy, or money, our generosity impacts our lives in ways that often remain hidden. But today, as I reflect on this past week, I am realizing that not only my serving has made an impact, but also it’s being around others who are serving that has impacted me.

I think it’s true of anything. When we experience it alone, there is impact. However, if we share that experience with others that impact is multiplied. It reminds me of Charlene and my all-time favorite vacation a few years back. Charlene loves to enter all the online sweepstakes. Whether it’s Publisher’s Clearinghouse or the HGTV Dream Home giveaway, she enters. Daily. I often give her a hard time when I look at her email and see it filled with junk. However, my perspective drastically changed one day when she received the call that she won a $5,000 trip to anywhere we would (I mean she would) like to go. We had just been talking about wanting to go to Hawaii. So that was that . . . we booked our 12-day stay on two islands with all expenses paid. It was glorious. We still talk about that trip. It was the most relaxing, beautiful vacation we have ever experienced. However, if she went or I went by ourselves, it wouldn’t have been the same. There was something about experiencing that together. We still regularly talk about it and dream of the day we’ll get to relive that vacation and return to Hawaii.

Which highlights my point . . . we are meant to be in relationship with one another and to experience life with one another . . . which takes me back to Kids Camp.

When I can sit back and reflect on this amazing week we just experienced, that experience takes on a whole new meaning when I wasn’t the only one giving something to be a part of it. As I thought through all of the wonderful individuals that made it happen, I am inspired by them. I am inspired by their love for kids. I am inspired by their desire to give away a part of their life for four, short days. I am inspired by the moms that got up extra early, toted all of their own kids to the church to be there by 7 AM, and willingly served other New Life families. I am inspired by staff that voluntarily served though their primary role isn’t Kids Ministry. I am inspired by the teenagers that could have been sleeping until noon wasting away their summers but arrived in the early morning hours with smiles on their faces (and lots of energy). I am inspired by the dads that lead small groups of young boys that need men to speak identity into their young lives.

I could have served alone, but it wouldn’t have made the same impact that it did by doing it with others. I am encouraged to be a part of this wonderful community that so willingly gives. I am even more encouraged that we get to do this together.