On my long drive to campus today I was listening to a song that reminded me of this summer. I am a councilor at a large youth group in my town, which I was a member of when I was in high school. This isn't like 30 kids in the basement of a church type youth group. Half the kids in the town go to this youth group. We have 3 meetings every Sunday, Jr. High (7th-8th grade), 9th grade, and Sr. High (10th-12th grade). We have over 230 in the Jr. High meetings alone. Every summer almost 500 of these kids and about 40 councilors go to an overnight camp in Ossipee New Hampshire the last week in August. This summer was the 51st year. It is always the best week of my entire year. It is somewhat centered around the Christian faith, but teens of all faiths and beliefs attend.
Music is a huge part of Camp. Many of the councilors and campers are very talented. Every evening before dinner we have chapel where we sing 'camp song' most of which were written by different councilors over the years, and also before the kids go back to their cabins at night. The songs that we sing at Camp are really a part of Camp and I don't think it would be the same without it. When I hear a 'Camp song' it brings me back their.
Thinking about 'Camp songs' made me think of how music is really tied into religion. I remember a priest once said that singing at mass isn't just singing, it's a passionate way to pray. Almost every religion has song kind of music that is a part of their faith, and especially their ceremonies. Did you know there is christian rap music?
This is getting long and I don't know where I am going with this so I'm just going to end it here. You can do that with a blog right?
