As I’m scrolling through my Facebook feed recently, it’s hard to miss that school is out for the summer and summer camps are in full swing. This reminds me of when I was a camper as a kid and even more so when I was Camp Counselor while in college.

During my college days, I decided to be a Religion Major because I wanted to go on to Seminary and have a focus in Outdoor Ministries. Summer Camps and Christian Camps are a big deal to me. I connect more with God when I’m out in HIS creation than in a church building. I wanted to go into Outdoor Ministries to be able to help other people connect to God in this way as well.

As I think back to my Camp Counselor days, there is always one memory that pops into my head first. The memory makes me smile and proves that God will come to you wherever you are in life.

It was a particularly stressful week for me at camp. It was getting to the halfway mark of summer and I was tired, worn out, and a little homesick. At this particular summer camp, summer staffers are given a specific job title each week. One week you could be a Counselor, the next week you could be a Life Guard, or a Cook, or Wrangler working with the horses, or, like in my case, a Dining Room Host.

I actually really enjoyed being a Dining Room Host. It was my job to prepare the dining rooms (yes more than one) for each meal and sometimes snacks. I needed to make sure enough tables were out with the correct corresponding chairs for each counselor/camper group. I made announcements, kept the dining room orderly while everyone got food, led prayer (both singing and spoken….I love the singing graces!) and helped with clean up. I was then responsible for sweeping and mopping after meals and cleaning the common bathrooms in the dining hall areas.

During this week of camp, the camp I worked at was also hosting a different group while normal camp activities were going on. They did this for several different groups and/or organizations. This camp was mainly adults who had different mental challenges. This was my ABSOLUTE favorite camp to be the Dining Room Host for. The positivity these people had about life and their love of the Lord were so contagious. I just loved being around them.

As can happen during this camp, the bathrooms can get a little more gross than normal.  Yup, poop would sometimes get put on the walls.  It was very important to check in on the bathrooms multiple times a day to make sure everything was ok.

This particular week, like I said, was a little stressful for me. I was cleaning up the bathroom for the second time that day. I was just beat. There were little signs that hung on the toilet paper dispensers that read, “Empty??? Please look up!” I glanced at the sign while scrubbing that same bathroom stall for the second time. I rolled my eyes and chuckled. Empty??? YES! I’M EMPTY! I’m drained! I’m tired! I’m hot!

Then I glanced at the second part of the sign again. Please look up!

My head fell and I chuckled. Ok God, I hear you. You have my attention. You are right. When my cup runs dry I need to “look up” so I can get my cup refilled. I was struggling. God met me right where I was, literally in crap, to remind me to keep my eyes on Him. He will give me strength and comfort.

My week was still long and stressful. And yes, I did scrub poop off the wall several more times. The main lesson that stuck with me and has been relevant in every stage of my life is when you are feeling drained and you just don’t want to move forward, let God in and help you.  It’s ok to ask for help.  It’s especially ok to ask God for help and guidance.

Fast forward to 14 years later and I STILL think of that bathroom toilet paper dispenser sign. Empty??? Please look up! It’s so simple yet so HARD to do. I’m currently writing this after a stressful day with my kids. Its getting close to midnight and my husband is just now on his way back to the shop from the work site. He works in HVAC and it’s July. My 2 (almost 3 year old) is trying to find the line of where he can and can’t step over. Time outs are a thing that happen multiple times a day. Yelling is something that I do multiple times a day. My almost 9 year old is being really pouty lately when she doesn’t get her way. This is not how I envisioned motherhood would be.

I’m drained…..I’m tired…..

Empty??? Please! Look! Up! Why is this so hard to do? I know I should. But if I’m being really honest, I don’t nearly enough.

I’m not sure if you are going through something right now. If you are, please let God help you. I know it’s easier said than done. It’s a pride thing because we are human.

Are you Empty, friend???
Please look up!