Gluten-Free Camp

God sets the lonely in families...
-Psalm 68:6

I had the privilege of spending a few days with my friend Cherish this week when she was in Delaware to lead a conference we hosted at our church. She's a pastor from Texas. We have a lot of fun joking around about the differences between Texas and Delaware culture, as well as the odd similarities (Americans gonna American in every state, amirite?). But she told me about something this week that I had absolutely never heard of: Gluten-Free Camp. 

I don't know if it's a regional thing or just something I've never encountered. Did you know that there are camps whose entire thematic focus is making sure that gluten never gets past their gates? 

I admit, my first ignorant thought was, "That's the strangest summer camp I've ever heard of. Is this a serious thing?" In my curiosity I quickly found out that yeah, it totally is. 

Cherish's daughter has celiac disease. That means that she can't eat gluten or she'll get very sick. And a reality like that for a kid means that you are often on the outside of social moments. No normal cake at a friend's birthday. No ability to join in the pizza party and grab a slice. It's an invisible, constant barrier, that would be hard for anyone. But especially for a teenager. If that's your story, it's really hard to find places where belonging is easy and effortless. 

If that was your reality (and I know for some of you it is!) can you imagine how freeing it would be to join in a week with friends that is all about keeping that gluten far away? A week where you don't have to think and analyze what's on the table all the time? Can you imagine a community where no one has to quietly guard themselves, just waiting for the moment where they are going to feel like the odd person out because their reality is complicated? 

It would be a week with no weird side eyes or subtle annoyances because you have unique needs. A week where no one feels like the oddball. A week where nobody is othered, because everyone understands. 

That's why gluten-free camp is like the Kingdom of God. 

I have no interest in figuring out if there will be gluten-free pizza at the great banquet that Jesus spoke about. 
What I am interested in is a community that is so deeply formed by Jesus, that anyone can enter without fear that they will feel like an outsider because their life realities aren't the same as others. I'm interested in a kingdom of God that receives all our insecurities and unique stories, all our fears and hurts and hopes, and says:  we are fully prepared to welcome you into relationship. You are safe here, and you are normal here. You don't have to work to belong. You don't have to be careful around everyone or suspicious of anyone else. You can rest. You can be renewed. You can find joy. You can walk forward inspired to join in all of it.

I'm interested in a kingdom where people are at rest with God and others. And because the risk is gone, only relationships of wholeness, forgiveness and justice will emerge.

This is what I believe Jesus shows us of his kingdom. It's a reality where somehow, all of our unique experiences and limits and joys and quirks find a place. It's a collection where the oddballs of the world (most of us) meet the oddball-ness of God's subversive values, and everyone thrives. It's a place where because you don't have to change yourself in order to be received, you cannot help but walk away changed forever by Jesus. 

That's the power of love and belonging. Jesus offers these things to us freely, and in them we are made new in Christ, over and over again.

I don't know what your gluten is. But it's whatever the thing is that makes it hard to be at ease. It's the thing that makes you feel like you're sometimes the outsider. Maybe it's your complicated family situation. Maybe you're going through the deconstruction of your faith. Maybe you don't know anything about the Bible and everyone else around you assumes things and it makes you feel stupid. Maybe you're single and your church is full of married people. Maybe it's a hidden struggle. Or maybe as you follow Jesus, your faith keeps changing and the spaces that you used to fit into don't really fit anymore.

It's ok. Jesus shows us that his kingdom is always a soft place to land, where you don't have to bear such a heavy burden. God has already gone before you, preparing for all your unique needs and sensitivities. Enter fully into God's love. Enter fully into God's family. You can rest here, and you will be changed forever.

Jesus, thank you for the grace-filled invitation to come. 

Peace,
Keith

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