The Naming Project and VBS :)

Dearly Beloved,

I knew exactly what I wanted to write until I sat down in front of my computer, then all the words left me. So, I did what most musicians do when they can’t find the words: I played a song. I started listening to Deciduous, a band piece composed by Viet Cuong in response to his father’s passing. It is a song of grief, the cycle of life, and the rebirth that follows. It is a deeply moving piece that speaks to the scripture reading for this upcoming Sunday, our VBS themes, and the campers I worked with at The Naming Project.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with The Naming Project, it is a church camp in Minnesota for queer high school youth. It is a space for queer youth to spend a week with others in their community, led by queer adults who may have shared similar life experiences, to explore who they are, how they engage with the world, and how they can be fully themselves in a world that isn’t often kind to them. This year’s theme was Brilliantly Resilient. We explored characters in the bible who experienced hardships. We spent time in worship contemplating the journeys we all take, the family we have and the family we’ve lost, and the ways we can continue to grow and shine, in spite of the way things may be now. 

While working at camp is one of the greatest honors and joys of my life, there is a type of grief involved. How do you look at a high schooler and give them hope when the world is so often less than kind? How do you tell a queer youth that “everything is fine” when they are living with people who don’t accept them? This is something that I struggle with every year, but every year, the campers blow me away with their boundless hope and their certainty that they can make a difference in this world, and make it a place where they can not only survive, but thrive. The campers I have the privilege of working with are a constant reminder that nothing is impossible with love and hope. These campers are some of the bravest people I will ever know.

This year’s VBS is Snowball Mountain Challenge, and each day has a “lift lesson” to teach us something new. For Tuesday, our “lift lesson” was I can be brave. To learn it, we heard the story of Queen Esther, which we will hear part of on Sunday. When Mordecai tells Esther about Haman’s plot, she has no choice other than bravery. She must be brave, or all of the Jewish people in Susa will be destroyed. Esther and Mordecai grieve the possible harm that could come to Esther, but Mordecai tells Esther of the severity of the situation: she is not safe just because she is Queen. Esther’s bravery could very well cost her life, but to stand back would also cost her life. There is no option but bravery.

For some of my campers at The Naming Project, bravery poses great risk. Some of them live in places that are actively imposing anti-queer legislation in the name of Christian values and safety. There is grief in seeing those around you support those who wish you harm, yet my campers continue to speak up and stand up for themselves and others. They have a deeper understanding of compassion, empathy, and the love of God than anyone I’ve ever known. They feel grief. They feel fear. They feel the full spectrum of emotions, and yet they continue to choose bravery. They choose to be brave. They choose to love.

My friends, I invite you to be like my campers. Be who you are, unapologetically. Be brave. Be bold. Laugh with your friends. Share stories with those you care about. Be brilliant. Choose love. Be kind. Be compassionate. And above all else, know that you are loved by the creator of the universe, and that you will always be loved. 

With love,

Charis Wirtley

Children Youth & Family Coordinator