The first night of Summer Madness (the Friday) wasn’t really the first at all. The first night was the Thursday when everyone descended to claim pitches and try to put up a motley assortment of tents and gazeebos. I say try to, as for the past couple of years heavy rain and wind (in July!) has made it a bit like one of those game shows. The game this year was, how much of the tent can you get up before the downpour forces you to run giggling for shelter. And then as quickly as the hordes descended they disappeared leaving behind an eerie silence and hundreds of expectant tents. In my sleeping bag that Thursday night one of my last thoughts before a sound sleep had me pondering as I always do. What did God have in store for me and the thousands of 12-18 year olds over the next few days? My sleep was sound as all my preparations for the security team I was co-leading were in place, and I could do no more. No more e mails, ‘phone calls, lists or last minute problems. The calm before the storm. God had got me thus far, but I had further to go.
Many folk would be put off camping by predicted poor weather but nothing dampened the spirits of the Summer Madness thousands as they descended on the King’s Hall Belfast site for the first night proper (the Friday) , and for some their first experience of worshiping with thousands of other people. It was like the first day of term at some very large boarding school and an essential part of the uniform was the wellington boot. I read recently that wellies at festivals are distinctly part of ‘glamping’ ( a mix of glamour and camping) but thankfully this year, wellies were a statement rather than a necessity and I even got a bit of sunburn. This year’s addition to the ‘must have’ list was the antiseptic hand wipe (a swine flu precaution).
It was the wee small hours of Saturday morning before the camp quietened and I struggled to get my large weary frame into a sleeping bag which seemed two sizes too small. Something was a bit uneven about the bed I was in, so the first time I rolled over in bed I was almost on the floor, but I soon got used to that. As I drifted off I was dry and comfortable and looking forward to another day. I wondered if I’d ‘pay’ for spending the past few hours speeding round the camp on a bike. In the fog of my brain I registered yet more yells and laughter from the campers and the drumming of heavy rain. Where do kids get their energy from?
In answer to your question: God… he doesn’t sleep either
Great to find a blog-based church (Cathedral in your case) website with the comments enabled!