Fresh pine, crisp winter air, and a rarely felt
sense of serenity; all found in the mountains. This week already feels like a
slow passing with camp coming in five days. Filled with anticipation, I wait anxiously
for Friday to come. This year, I will be heading up to Whispering Winds in
Julian with those in my faith formation class.
For the longest time, I've been dreading this trip away
from the city. Giving up one of my treasured weekends, the thought of having to
find time on Sunday night to cram all the work I couldn't do, and being far
away from my bed made me the opposite of excited and happy. My best choice for
the many months leading up to camp was to place that undesired thought on the
shelf and forget about it until I had to pack my bags. However, during class
last week, my group began to talk about the preparations for the weekend and
what we would be doing. At first, I sat there with a fake plastered smile on
the outside and eye roll and pout on the inside. As my facilitator and junior
facilitators began to talk about their experiences at confirmation camp, I
found myself erasing that pout and putting on a real smile.
I had forgotten what pre-confirmation camp was like last
year. I had forgotten how blissful, spiritual, and amazing that trip was. Like
the months leading up to this upcoming weekend, last year's anticipation was
the same; I didn't want to go. I remember sitting on the bus on the way the way
there; hoping that the weekend would quickly pass by and I would be back in
Mira Mesa. That weekend became better and better with each talk that was given,
each personal thought uncovered, and each newly made connection with someone I
thought I'd never talk to. That weekend did go by very fast; not because I
wanted it to, but because I hadn't wanted it to. I feel like time flies when
you wish that it wouldn't.
That feeling that I had as I left camp last year has
reemerged. Reality will be left behind the moment I step off of the bus and
onto the unpaved dirt path. I'm ready to escape the stress of school for 48 hours,
my phone that seems to be glued to my hand 24/7, and the constant hustle and
bustle. My wishes for this weekend is to be happy, open myself up to others,
and get connected with my faith.
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