My Scary Night - Part Two

Well, I survived the camping trip. My son and I had a great time - he loved chucking things into the fire. I really began to see how much he was like me. I remember when my dad used to grill food out back, I loved to watch the fire and watch him. And I really liked that once he was done, I could start chucking stuff in the fire. I would burn potato chips, wood chips, mango seeds, brown leaves, green leaves, grass, sticks. I used to push mango sticks onto the coals to make them get all red and smokey. My son must have thrown a hundred sticks into the fire - and aluminum cans, plates, napkins, leaves, moss, pine cones.

It was a pleasant night and we had a ball. We went to bed much earlier than the college guys, so we were not forced to participate in their shenanigans. And by the time they got done playing manhunt, they forgot we were there. So we came back with all of our hair. We also saw three deer on the way in, which was pretty neat. My son loved the playground as well. It was fun, and we had a great time with the guys. But it was not a life-altering experience that secured my sleeping out in the dirt all the time. I won't shy away from it as much now, but I still think it is more fun to have a dozen guys sitting around watching football or a movie in the air conditioning.

And speaking of football, I did get back in time to watch UCF try their hardest to lose, but still find a way to win. 8-3, 7-1 in conference. And through timely losses by other teams, we are hosting the conference championship game on December 3. Last year, we went 0-11 against the worst conference in the USA. This year, we went 8-3 against a much better one, and are going to a bowl game. Wow. What a difference a year makes. GO KNIGHTS!!!

My Scary Night - Part One

So, tonight I am going to do something that absolutely terrifies me, something that I have never ever participated in - and part of me never thought I would. Tonight, I am going camping. The College men's Sunday School class that I teach decided they wanted to do this for some reason. After ducking it for over a year, I finally had to agree to go. I am taking my four year old son with me. He, of course, is thrilled by the concept of hanging out with the "big kids" and sleeping outside. I, of course, am terrified by both of those things.

First of all, I have worked with college students for all ten years since I was one. So I am pretty familiar with what college guys do. And based on our last outdoor adventure with this group, my fears are pretty well-founded. There is great fear on my part that I will wake up with some sort of weird thing on my face, or missing hair, or floating in a river. These are my guys. I love them to death, but I don't trust them at all. I'm hoping that my boy will give them pause before destroying me. Yes, I am using my boy as a human shield -- and I'm okay with that.

Second, I have no idea why people like sleeping outside. This is what mankind has tried to escape doing for centuries. This is why we build houses. We want to sleep inside, in the climate-controlled bliss that our AC Units provide. The outside is hard and dirty. My bed is soft and clean - unless one of the kids poured cereal on it or got sick on it. So, I am a bit nervous about the whole thing. I am a couch potato. Look at my favorite activities. They all include sitting in a soft chair. I like to sit and watch television, sit and work on the computer, sit and watch movies, sit and read. Catching a pattern? I don't like to lay in the dirt and fight bugs and bears for food.

Of course, maybe I'll be really surprised and really enjoy it. Maybe I'll be overwhelmed by the beauty of God's Creation and sleeping under the stars. Maybe I'll become an outdoorsman. After all, I am actually GOING in the first place. So maybe there is hope for me yet. As long as I get home in time to watch UCF go for the championship on my computer in my recliner.

I'm sure you will all eagerly await the results.