simple little things

Having just returned from volunteering at Comfort Zone Camp, which is designed for children who have lost a parent, sibling, or primary caretaker, I am overwhelmed with emotions.  I have just spent the weekend in the presence of 60 of the strongest, bravest teenagers you can imagine, and am struggling to organize my thoughts.

The whole weekend was designed to mirror life – some times are fun and you forget about your loss, and some times are serious, and you feel the burden of your pain resting squarely on your shoulders.  One night, we sang silly songs and roasted marshmallows over a fire to make s’mores.  A few moments later, one by one, the campers placed written messages to lost loved ones into the same fire, and spoke their names out loud.  For many, this was the first time they got to participate in a ritual to say goodbye, as funerals are designed for adults.   

There were small groups who met throughout the weekend to allow the campers to discuss their stories, their grief, and their challenges.  Some stories were so heartbreaking, it was all I could do to just cry and not sob while listening.  How humbling to have them trust us with this pain, and to be allowed to participate in their healing process.  I was filled with pride and awe as I listened to my little buddy describe what she had been through, and how she thought others could learn from her grief journey.  The magic about Comfort Zone Camp is that for the first time in their lives, the campers are surrounded other teens who know so well what it feels like to think you are the only one who has this pain.  And they are surrounded by adults who provide comfort and support, and model for them that it is ok to laugh, ok to cry, ok to work through your loss in whatever way you need to.

I can’t put into words the things I experienced at camp, or the ways it changed me.  You simply cannot imagine, and would not believe what can happen in a grieving child’s heart in such a short period of time.  It revealed to me that this is truly the only thing I can imagine dedicating my time, energy, and life to.  I went to camp hoping to change a child’s life, and left having been changed myself.

What Comfot Zone Camp does helps to heal the world, one child at a time.

Please take a moment to visit www.comfortzonecamp.org.