If someone asks me what an average day at Light of the Village looks like, I would first respond with: There is nothing average about LOV’s Summer Bible Camp. Of course, we have our groups and our stations, but when I get up in the morning, I am never quite sure what my day may hold. Maybe, I will spend my morning defying death on the jungle gym in an attempt to catch a kid that is much faster than I am. Maybe, I will fight through algebra problems with one of our GED students. Or even more adventurously, I may help one of our teenage girls suit up in her spectacularly devised weight-loss solution of saran wrap.

There are two promises that I can make to our visitors though. First, there is never a dull moment. Secondly, I can promise that you will have an opportunity to see the face of God.

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is found in 1Kings. In this particular story, Elijah is hiding in a cave in order to escape Jezebel’s wrath. While he is sleeping, an angel comes to him and tells him to go and stand atop a mountain because God will be passing by. Elijah stands on the mountain and a great wind comes through, but God was not in it. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but God was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire, but God was not in the fire. Then after these radical displays came a whisper. The voice of God spoke to Elijah in a whisper.

In my unorthodox mornings, I can hear God’s whispers. His messages did not come in a fantastically designed Cathedral or in a seminary classroom or during an organized Summer revival. They came when I was out of breath from chasing Speed Racer around the yard. He spoke when we finally figured out how many more miles Teresa had run than Dan. And, even when I shared laughs and jokes over the crazy, unexpected things my girls ask me to help them with.

I have learned that in the middle of the messiness of life and community, God whispers his beautiful blessings. Every day that I wake up, I may not know what the day will hold, but I do know that God will share something beautiful with me. People spend their entire lives chasing God and His beauty, but He can be found in the smile of a child being pushed on a swing or in the laughter and cheers of our assembly every morning. Every face, every smile holds the truth of the Light.