I was eight. I was sick. It was severe. I had all the classic symptoms. Distress, sadness, anxiety, and most prominently the shedding of endless tears. It went on day after day after day. The diagnosis? Homesickness. It was my first time to attend summer camp and I was not enjoying it at all. Neither was my big sister who was a camp counselor. I had thoroughly embarrassed her.
Fast forward a handful of decades, and here I am still at summer camp! (I eventually got over my homesickness and kept going to camp.) As an adult camp worker, I can tell you that homesickness is still alive and well. In matter of fact, homesickness has been around for a long time. The Old Testament speaks of the sadness that the Israelites felt who had been exiled from their home. “By the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.” Psalm 137:1
That sadness, that wistful yearning is in us all. We all long (whether we realize it or not) to go back. Back to our true dwelling place. Back to our place of highest joy. Back to our place of total fulfillment. Our home in heaven. A place that has no sickness or tears. A place of perfect contentment and infinite joy. A place where we will be united with our big family-the family of God. And of course…it is a place that I won’t embarrass my big sister.
© Rose of Sharon
Great Sharon. I love your writings. I wouldn’t be prejudiced, would I? Love Mom
Hopefully the piece brought back happy memories of your childhood camping days. Thanks for your loving support in my writing adventure.