Decisions, Decisions

            As the end of the school year is now in sight I have been thinking especially of those who are graduating from high school, college, and graduate school.  On high school and college campuses everywhere, students expecting (or hoping, rather, in some cases) to graduate  are busily preparing for final exams.  Some are saying good bye to roommates.  Some are planning open house parties.  Graduation is an exciting time, a noble accomplishment, and an occasion to celebrate!  But in these days and times with the job market as it is, graduating can also carry with it a tremendous burden and anxiety as these young people prepare to transition into what will come next.  College?  (Which one?)  Career?  (Who will hire me?)  Relocate?  (Can I afford to live there?).  What will they decide.  And how will they make their decision? 

            Life is full of decisions.  But some are bigger than others.  What you decide to eat for breakfast today isn’t as big of a decision as what college you decide to attend, or what career path you take.  However, if you decide to eat three Sausage Biscuits with Egg and Cheese, plus hashbrowns on the side from McDonald’s every morning of your life, then what seemed to have been a small decision at the time will become a big decision in the future as your arteries slowly harden and your blood flow decreases.  You get the picture.  As someone once said, “Our lives are a sum total of the decisions we have made and the decisions we haven’t made.”  As I reflect on some of the decisions I’ve made in my relatively short lifetime, I notice that some have been wise and turned out well, while others have been rash, foolish, and brought back poor results.  I think everyone can relate to that.  We all regret doing and saying certain things, while there are other times when asked if we would do it the same exact way, we’d say yes.

            I remember during my college-age years I worked at Camp Geneva on the shores of Lake Michigan in Holland, Michigan for three summers.  Camp Geneva is a Christian youth camp owned and operated by the Reformed Church in America – similar to what we have near us here in up-state New York at Camp Fowler in Speculator.  Working there was one wise decision that I’d make again.  In those days I was known as Uncle Josh (the staff went by “uncle” or “aunt so-and-so” in order to create a family type of atmosphere).  I have lots of fond memories of those summers at Geneva.  Most of those memories have faces tied to them.  I can still see the faces of many of the campers who were in my cabin, other staff members who became life-long friends, and of course one face that I continue to see every day – that of the cute, curly brown-haired camp nurse, Kim, who later became my wife!  Marrying her was another wise decision I’d gladly make again!

            Another face I remember best is that of Rev. Jon Mark Schoon.  He was the program director.  Everyone called him Grandpa.  He was the man in charge and everyone knew it.  Speaking of wisdom, scripture tells us that fear is the beginning of wisdom.  And you were wise to have a healthy fear of Grandpa.  He would patrol the camp grounds in his golf cart at night looking for home-sick campers who decided to make a break for it and run away back home.  Or he’d be looking for love-struck counselors who were trying to sneak down to the beach past midnight for some private moments.  I’m not going to tell you if I was ever mixed up in any of that.  But knowing the camp nurse (Kim) as I do, she probably tried to lure me down there a time or two (or maybe it was the other way around?)!  Sneaking out past curfew would’ve been a foolish decision – but I’m not sure if I’d regret it!  It’s funny that whenever a couple got caught, the excuse was always that they were “praying together.”  But this kind of praying gave new meaning to Saint Paul’s phrase “greet each other with a holy kiss.”  Grandpa didn’t fall for it though, and many a counselor was threatened with the prospect of -- in Grandpa’s words -- “earning a one-way ticket home.”  And we knew he meant it. 

            Even though Grandpa Jon Mark was a rather intimidating force, he also had a certain quality that made people want to be near him.  He had the uncanny ability to draw the very best out of people.  There was always something you could learn from him, so people gravitated toward him.  He taught me about integrity, servant-leadership, giftedness, affirmation, and loving the Body of Christ.  He also taught me about tough love.  In fact, it was his words of encouragement, affirmation, and warm hugs that made his reprimands that much harder to bear.  I quickly grew to love and respect that man of God.  Unfortunately, I don’t think he ever knew how much he meant to me.  He went to be with the Lord eight years ago this May after a tragic car accident.  He is still missed and remembered by so many people.

            Perhaps one of the things for which I am most indebted to Grandpa Jon Mark is the advice he gave to the Camp Geneva staff in the summer of 2000.  The fact that I remember it 11 years later bears witness to its profundity.  It had to do with how to make big decisions in life.  “God speaks to us in three ways,” he said.  “Through scripture.  Through prayer.  And through the wise counsel of those we trust.  And when the voice of all three of those are telling you the same thing – when it’s consistent and aligned – then you can make your decision with faith and confidence that you are deciding wisely.”  But that’s not all.  And here is the part of Grandpa’s advice that I found particularly unique and helpful:  “When you feel that God has led you to your decision, make it.  And then live into your decision for two weeks in order to test the spirits.  If during those two weeks God gives you a sense of peace about your decision, you will know that it was of God.  But if you experience anxiety, restlessness, and a lack of peace about your decision, then that might be God telling you to go back and listen again for his voice in scripture, prayer, and the wise counsel of those you trust.” 

            We all face big decisions in life:  decisions regarding family, friends, finances, careers, colleges, etc.  Grandpa Jon Mark’s words of wisdom have helped to make big decisions for the past 11 years now.  In fact, his advice helped guide Kim and I into making our most recent big decision – to move our little family to Fonda, New York.  This process has served me well, and I pass it on to you, trusting it will help you to decide wisely!