Living Generously at the A/U Ranches

By Alison Peticolas, Ranch Director

 
This year, all of us at Adventure Unlimited are exploring the idea of what it means to live generously – with a clear sense of the abundant good God provides. Alison Peticolas, A/U Ranches Director, shares her thoughts about how living generously is the very essence of camp.

Living generously is what camp is all about. In so many ways, camp opens the door (or window) to a view of life that is focused on the other, on giving. I remember during my first years on staff, this passage from Mrs. Eddy becoming my guiding focus, “…blessed is that man who seeth his brother’s need and supplieth it, seeking his own in another’s good.” (S&H 518:17-19) I loved the opportunity to serve that camp offered and continues offering today.

Being surrounded by so many people sharing the ins and outs of daily life, camp creates natural moments of giving to others. Living generously shows up in the small things like sharing your toothpaste or loaning an extra jacket, passing the last Churro to your friend at the table, offering the first chance at a canoe to a fellow camper. Sometimes we make it to the top of the mountain because someone else supported us or because we were focused on supporting someone else. Each of us has been the recipient of this kind of care and has shown this care to others.

We live generously because all that we have comes from God and our connection to all good. I absolutely love this translation of this year’s metaphysical theme, “God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” (NLT 2 Cor. 9:8) What an awesome promise!

Camp can be demanding – asking us to work hard and play hard, explore new ideas, push our limits, try all kinds of new things. How can we do all that? This passage gives us the answer. God is going to give us everything we need – generously. Not just enough to get through, but so much that we’ll always be able to be there for each other. That is the spiritual foundation, the undeniable promise of living generously. That is what we get to do at camp!