Draw the Circle Wide

Each morning of Western Washington County Creation Vacation, after coming to life again and visiting over a scrumptious breakfast and a mug or two of strong camp coffee, about 25 adults and a few youth and kids made their way down the stairs of Carrier dining hall for a brief time of sharing and prayer. In this circle of new friends, requests for difficult situations and loved ones in pain were lifted to God and to the group, some in English, some in Spanish. Many shared the joy that they had experienced already through the emergence of new relationships and the strengthening of life-long ones, through laughter and play and creativity together, and through the peace and beauty all around us at Camp Magruder. The authenticity and openness in the sharing of this new community moved and inspired me and remains a happy fog of aliveness in my memory, but one moment is still clear in my mind.

Gerardo (pictured above with his daughters, Sarita and Yoseline) said he wanted to share something with the group and began by saying that he was thankful, but tears quickly came to his eyes and the words stuck in his throat. He shook his head, indicating that he couldn't talk. After the group prayed and headed off to ride donkeys or row in the lake, I asked Gerardo privately if he was okay and he told me that he found it difficult to articulate the emotion he was feeling. He shared that his parents had left him at a young age and he was raised by and with people who were not his blood relatives. He never knew his parents or siblings and isn't sure where they are now. And what was impacting him so much in that moment of sharing was that in those days of fun and rest and exploration and contemplation at camp with his children and neighbors, Gerardo told me that he had experienced family.

I am reminded of Jesus's words at the end of Matthew 12 when he is told that his family members want to talk to him (from The Message):

"Who do you think my mother and brothers are?" He then stretched out his hand toward his disciples. "Look closely. These are my mother and brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father's will is my brother and sister and mother."

Clearly, those related to us by blood want and need our love and time, but our definition of family is ultimately a choice. We are already part of God's family, and when we choose to do life together, we experience that the circle that binds us together is drawn wider and wider and the love is extended beyond where we could have imagined. Since camp, when I have visited Gerardo and his sweet daughters at home or chatted with them over dinner at Forest Grove UMC's Family Fiesta, I have given thanks that this family is my family and, thank God, they consider me part of their family as well. Imagine what could be possible if our family included all in our communities and that all of us really knew--and believed--that we are all already inside the same circle!

Mark Miller's Draw the Circle Wide, a song that I haven't been able to get out of my head for days! I love the words.