Taming the Tongue

Glenn Breazeale | Jun. 07, 2015

Carter and I have just returned from a Sunday evening vespers service in the Mountain cabin area.  The Mountain is where the Warriors and Braves live, the big semicircle of cabins just above the Team Sports Field.  Just in the woods behind cabins 9 and 10 is a simple bench seating area.  Campers and counselors alike sit facing a podium made of an old oak stump.  Behind the podium stands a wooden cross made of timbers.  It has been there at least since I was a camper on the Mountain in the late 80’s.

Boys gather in this area each weekday morning for Morning Watch, a singing and short devotion time led by their head counselor.  Each Sunday night this is the spot for their evening vesper service.  Cabins quietly gather right around dusk, with a small fire built to provide light.  After singing a few hymns by flashlight with guitar accompaniment, one of the counselors brings a Bible message.  I still have vivid memories of these vesper services from when I was a camper, even more so than the Morning watches.  Probably because they are more rare and at such a beautiful and peaceful time of night.

Tonight on the Mountain Robert Schaffeld delivered a devotion from James 3.  Robert hails from Birmingham, AL and will be a sophomore at Auburn this fall.  He used the fire next to him as a great analogy for how powerful the tongue can be.  If only the spark used to start that fire were to get out of control the whole woods around us could burn, he explained.  The tongue is just as powerful.

He told us that he struggled with his tongue and saying mean or hurtful things to others and that he knew all of us did.  He encouraged us that we are forgiven because of Jesus even when we slip up.  And to ask others to forgive us when we do mess up with our tongues.  I left very encouraged and I know the campers and counselors did too.

You and I, as parents, can say this to our children all day long (and by all means we should be).  But it lands in a different and powerful way when it comes from Robert Schaffeld who is funny and really athletic and only a few years older than these boys.  They can see themselves in his shoes in just a few years much more so than yours and mine as parents.

Today’s breakfast and lunch are definitely worth mentioning!  Sunday mornings at Alpine bring pancakes made from scratch and cooked and flipped by the ladies in the back.  I’ve never asked how many pancakes they make on their griddle each Sunday morning.  But I know this, they arrive very early on Sunday morning.  It’s a labor of love.

Sunday lunch is traditional.  Baked chicken breasts, green beans, and rice with gravy are a welcome sight.  Pears and buttered rolls add to the table.  And of course Mayfield Ice Cream brand Moosetracks for dessert! (or vanilla for peanut allergies).

Everyone is tucked in bed and ready for a full week of activities.  Thanks for reading and good night for now,

Glenn

 

 

Glenn Breazeale
Glenn Breazeale

Like his own father, Glenn grew up as a camper at Alpine for six summers, coming from Jackson, MS each summer. He has served on staff at Alpine since 1997, working full time as Assistant Director from 2003 to 2005 and Director since 2006. Prior to that he gained experience serving in various capacities including cabin counselor, Head Counselor, Head of Project Adventure (Ropes course), Horseback instructor, and Program Director. Glenn’s love of camping and his desire to preserve the traditions of Alpine drew him back to camp to offer young boys the same opportunities he experienced. He met and fell in love with Carter during a Square Dance with Camp DeSoto.