As a college graduate and someone working towards her master’s degree, I never imagined I would take time off of school to work for a camp ministry as an intern. I felt above the work, above the pay grade and above the living conditions. But regardless of my selfishness, the Lord led me back to Crossings.
I worked as a summer staffer twice for Crossings, so I wasn’t new to camp life; however, life as a summer staffer proved to be vastly different from life as a year-round intern. Being a summer staffer is instantaneously rewarding. I saw students accept Christ for the first time and accept the call to full-time ministry. I watched people overcome their fear of heights on the zip lines and atop the blob tower. Sure, I worked hard, but the fruit of my labor was very evidently not in vain.
Life as an intern was not so glamorous. At times, I felt like my work went unnoticed and unappreciated. After all, rarely are you praised for cleaning a toilet well. Months went by doing the same monotonous work, with little-to-no affirmation, and I was tired. Physically tired, emotionally tired and, most importantly, spiritually tired. I understood that my work allowed groups to use our property to its maximum potential, which resulted in successful retreats where students and adults furthered their relationship with the Lord, but I didn’t get to directly help that happen.
You can feel the selfishness permeating through every word in this story.
Thankfully, we serve a loving Father who deems nothing pointless and all things beneficial. Through my relationships with fellow interns, I saw the fruit of my labor. Only it wasn’t my labor that was bearing fruit—it was the work of the Holy Spirit moving in me. He had gradually softened my heart to be a better listener, a better receiver of criticism, a better worker, and a better servant. He graciously showed me that servanthood is about willingly submitting to the will of the master, the will of the Lord.
So what does all of this mean? It means the gospel is not too big for the little things or too small for the big things. It means that everything—leading a Bible study, cleaning a toilet, sitting behind a computer screen—is an opportunity for the Lord to sanctify His children. In all things and through all things He is working for our good, and our good is to look more like His Son, Jesus.
Breanna Shelton currently serves as a guest relations coordinator in the Crossings central office.
Breanna Shelton