yes.

"Being privately spiritual but not religious just doesn't interest me. There is nothing challenging about having deep thoughts all by oneself. What is interesting is doing this work in community, where other people might call you on stuff, or heaven forbid, disagree with you. Where life with God gets rich and provocative is when you dig deeply into a tradition that you did not invent all for yourself."

--Lillian Daniel is the senior minister of the First Congregational Church, UCC, Glen Ellyn, Illinois

countdown 'til college

I don't actually have a countdown, but I appreciate alliterations. Today was the last day of camp. I'm not really sad. I'll miss people, but I won't miss camp life. At camp, everyone says that we will never have a community like the one at camp, but I do and I have. And I count that as a blessing. Camp was great and awful at the same time, as many good things tend to be. I learned a lot about living fully and persistence and loving and the Holy Spirit and friendship and patience and gentleness and vulnerability. And I am grateful. Now I'm getting ready to move over to Easttown and my apartment and Calvin College, School of Champions. I'm so excited for what this year will bring.