Well folks,
Every great saga has three parts: Star Wars, Back to the future, Indiana Jones (lets just forget that last movie), Lord of the Rings…the list goes on and on. So needless to say it is only fair that if I’m going to have a good story for my grand-kids, then I just have to head up North again.
The last two years I’ve been a mountain guide, but this year my official title this summer at Beyond Malibu (check out www.beyondmalibu.org) is Male Base Camp Coordinator. Basically that means I'm the guy that assigns work projects to the staff when they're in basecamp. So needless to say, I'm expecting this summer to be vastly different that my last two.... in situation only. I'm afraid I won't be writing tales of mountain tops, glaciers, or breathtaking views; but alas a constant theme threaded through all three of my summers is the fact that indeed I will be playing a key role in these stories. As such I foresee a myriad of opportunities for challenge and growth that will inevitably stem from my--incredibly human like qualities. I wouldn't be surprised if humility, patience, endurance, and grace will be my peaks to climb this summer. I can only hope that those around me will be willing to put up with all my trips, stumbles, and full on falls that undoubtedly will come.
Nonetheless I eagerly look forward to playing my small role at beyond this summer as a support for others who get to go through an experience that has already been so transformational in my own life. More so than in any other time in my life, there is a wall of question marks that await me on the other side of this summer. With college now behind me, I'll be off to the races...I just wish someone would show me where the starting line is and which way to run.
In very short hindsight, this is an amazing choreography of events; at the time when the future is most unclear, I have in front of me one solid, basic, simple step: Serve others in a way that brings the focus back on Jesus. I don’t have a 20 year plan or a big promotion to shoot for—just this one aim into which I am to pour all of myself. I can think of no better way to start off the rest of my life.
Time now for my shameless plug….write me.
Ben Creelman
c/o Beyond
I know it’s hard to lift up that heavy pen, and buy that expensive stamp, and lick that dreaded envelope. But in all reality, your letters are comparatively much more valuable to me than a t-bone steak is to a bloodhound that lives with a bunch of tofu eating hippies. I look forward to hearing from you all and I will try to send letters to be updated to this blog every week or so.
