July 04, 2010

Session 4 | Day 8b

Howdy! Yes, I am from Texas.

Of course, Happy Independence Day to you wherever you may be, although it is nearly over and done. You can be sure that this special day has been celebrated justly and thoroughly by people who truly understand its significance. I know that here at Summit all our hearts were filled with poignant gratitude as we took some time today to stop and remember the plethora of individuals who have sacrificed for this country and our freedom. No matter the state of America as it stands now, no one can doubt that America is truly something special and something worth preserving. I’m very proud of my country, despite any transgressions that have tainted us. With THAT said and off my chest, I will get to the substance of the day.

My heart feels full of contentment and joy as I remember the events of today, which marked the beginning of our second and final week here. Though the time has gone by pleasantly, it has gone by far too quickly. This morning, about half of us (including me) got up at the unearthly hour of 5AM to go whitewater rafting down the Arkansas River! Despite the sleep deprivation, we were all full of anticipation as we looked forward to a break from classroom instruction and a chance to be out in Colorado’s truly “great outdoors.” However, this was one of those days where things don’t always go as planned. Yet, like any group of intelligent people, we adjusted. Let me explain.

On our way to Noah’s Ark (the rafting company we were using), we were held up by a very serious wreck that took an extra 45 minutes out of our trip. When it was clear that our path would not clear up anytime soon, we made our way out to a detour route. Unfortunately, that is not where our mishaps ended. To be blunt, the bus broke down. Thoroughly. The bus I happened to be on. Now this is where the adjustments I mentioned came in. We had to find a way to transport all of the 100+ people to the rafting site, which, needless to say, was interesting. 3 to 4 hours later we FINALLY made it to our destination. And though it was a tedious inconvenience, we all were able to deal with it jovially and light-heartedly enough. All was well. AND they were able to fix the broken bus before we had to go home. It did take a significant amount of time out of our day that we would have rather spent doing otherwise, though.

I don’t think “beautiful” is the most fitting word to describe the mountains, valleys, and rivers of Colorado, yet it’s the best I can manage. Around every river bend was a completely different and breathtaking scene to absorb. Absolutely beautiful. There is such a harmony of textures, colors, and smells that can only be roughly mimicked, even by the most gifted artists. I’ve always been thankful that God made the sky blue and the grass green. I don’t think we could have it any other way. Everything He has made is perfect. A simple truth, but one that is, I think, easily forgotten.

Some very exhausted but happy campers finally made it home safe and sound just in time for dinner, some quick showers, and worship. Summit’s worship services are administered by some very talented and humble people and are so well done. Here, worship is about worship and nothing else. I think all our hearts have grown closer to the Lord this past week because of the worship.

Mike Adams, a very charismatic and passionate man, has been speaking to us frequently about how Cultural Marxism is invading college campuses all across the country. He is actively involved in lawsuits that address the restriction of the freedom of speech for conservative Christian groups. The stories he has would blow your mind. Tonight he delivered his final speech to us and left us with some wise encouragement. He has encouraged us to defend Christian rights and attack liberal indoctrination that we may someday encounter on our college campuses. Yet he did warn us that we may not always be very popular and our lives could be very miserable for defending what is right. I think we all feel inspired to do so, but of course only some of us will actually follow through.

Back to the Fourth of July, we topped off our day with a reading of the entire Declaration of Independence and a fireworks show outside! An unexpected but typical Colorado thunderstorm decided to blow in as the show began, and I must say the contrast of fireworks and lightning is fascinating. The Summit staff is very thoughtful, and they prepared for us a very enjoyable ice cream social with which to enjoy each other.

The relationships at Summit are a very rare and beautiful thing. Meeting Christians from all over the country and even world (we have two students from Cairo, Egypt attending) is an incredible experience. It’s hard to put into words the level of bonding that takes place in two short, but powerful, weeks. This is my second year attending Summit, and I honestly have never forgotten the people I met here the first time.

To sum it all up: the meals are incredible, the speakers powerful, the relationships life changing, and all the people involved in making things work here are one of a kind. Summit is not something I would ever trade. It has truly changed my life. Twice.

Well, sleep is very precious here, and we have one more week of challenging classes and new experiences to face. So, I will say goodnight and happy birthday, America. I hope we never forget those that gave you to us. Blessings!

• Posted at 09:44 pm by Deborah Swanson (Missouri City, TX)
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