In life, we are granted many opportunities, some of which take us far in life, and others we take advantage of. When I heard about Oshkosh for the first time I didn’t want to go at all. I thought, what crazy person decides to camp out in the wilderness for a week straight? A friend of mine had the opportunity to go to Oshkosh back in 2014, and encouraged me to take the time and experience it for myself. So, there I was packing my bags for a week’s worth of treachery and despair. The bus ride seemed to have lasted two years rather than two days. Don’t even get me started on the restroom stops and constant chatter while I tried to sleep.
It seemed as though I couldn’t find a single thing positive about this trip. Then the time came when we finally arrived at the campground. I thought there is absolutely no way that it can last this long. Setting up the tents while the day died in the west, and struggling to light the fire so that the food could be ready for dinner wasn’t exactly the highlight of my day at all. Finally, the evening service came around and my club and I arrived early enough to get good seats for the program. It was chilly and the mosquitos seemed to have gotten worse as the time flew by. Suddenly the wait was over, and the lights on the stage began to shine bright. The name “Chosen” came up on the screen and my attention span seemed to have increased.
A man came on stage and gave a powerful message. He spoke of God seeing you even when you feel lost and meaningless. Though you may feel as though you serve no purpose, God has a purpose for you. He never fails to keep his promise, and He will never leave your side. In the midst of confusion and chaos, God still has His hands on you and is watching over you. When he finished speaking, everyone rose to their feet and began to cheer. I found myself doing the same. I now realized the importance of me going to Oshkosh.
I needed to hear that message so that I could be reminded of my self-worth. All moments in our lives are either meant for us to love or learn from. Despite my feelings of doubt and misery in the beginning of the trip, I decided that when you have a more positive outlook on the opportunities that you are given in life, you learn something and find a purpose. My mom always told me that whatever you put into life, it will give back to you the same way. Take a chance in life, because you might find something you weren’t looking for when you began.
Southern Union | October 2019
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