March 30

Kent Busman is Camp Fowler’s executive director.

Isaiah 42:1-9

Lent is drawing to its bitter close. We marched with the peaceful King on his colt yesterday and heard the crowds cheering. The “light to the nations” is about to be darkened. The one who opens “the eyes of the blind” will have his eyes shut and be placed in his own dungeon-tomb.

But not today. Today Jesus looks around and perhaps Isaiah’s song of praise and resistance is on his lips. Like the prophet, Jesus could see the reality before him: betrayals, curses, and a cross. But there was more to come, to use the words of musician Bruce Cockburn, “just beyond the range of normal sight.”

In our walk with the Christ, often we lose sight of the bigger picture. Isaiah is a reminder to us of what the journey is for. It’s not for our own glory or victory. We live in faith in order to be a light to find the captives and those in prison and all those cast aside. And then, like Isaiah, we will walk with them to the far side of Lent and the One who waits for us there.

Prayer: Lord, let us not fall prey to those who would have us confess your name, but abandon the ones you came to redeem. May we be part of Isaiah’s vision, stretching out as far as your heavens. And give us courage as we stand with them, waiting for the “former things to pass” and listening for the “new things you now declare.”

The 2015 Lenten reflections were submitted by staff, volunteers, board members, campers, and friends who have spent time at Camp Fowler in New York.

For this year’s Lent devotions, the days follow the Common Lectionary texts. Each author was invited to: 1.Read the passage.
2.Read a couple passages before and after the assigned day.
3.Do something else for the day, keeping the passage in mind.
4.Find a word/phrase/concept that connects with your own experience. Reflect on that.
You are encouraged to do the same.

March 28

Nancy Landrigan served as moderator of Camp Fowler’s board of trustees and is a volunteer cabin counselor. She also coordinates Fowler’s day camp program at First Church Albany.

Mark 15:1-39

This is such a heavy passage; almost too heavy to tackle in one sitting. In these 39 verses, it’s abundantly clear that Jesus has made enemies. He did not come to affirm the status quo, to protect the powerful, or to bless the privileged. He came to proclaim good news to the poor, set prisoners free, and restore sight to the blind.

As I am writing this, we are just a couple weeks past election day. I think of the promises our politicians make to us during every election season—promises to make our lives better and easier. And so I wonder: if Jesus came back today, would we want to hear his campaign promises? Or would we, like the priests, the elders, and the scribes, do all in our power to be sure his message could not be proclaimed? Would we, like the crowds, get swept up in the uproar and propaganda, shouting, “Crucify him, crucify him”?

We are called to live as Christ lived, love as he loved, and sacrifice as he sacrificed. May we truly live as a people called to be Christ’s presence in this world.

Prayer: Lord, grant us the courage to live as Jesus would have us live. Show us how to give up power and privilege and to embrace equality and balance. May we be your presence in this world so that one day all will proclaim, “Truly this man is the Son of God.”
The 2015 Lenten reflections were submitted by staff, volunteers, board members, campers, and friends who have spent time at Camp Fowler in New York.

For this year’s Lent devotions, the days follow the Common Lectionary texts. Each author was invited to:
Read the passage.
Read a couple passages before and after the assigned day.
Do something else for the day, keeping the passage in mind.
Find a word/phrase/concept that connects with your own experience. Reflect on that.
You are encouraged to do the same.

March 27

Emma Conrick was a camper and S.W.i.M. volunteer at Camp Fowler, and this summer will be her first on staff as a wilderness guide.

Philippians 2:5-11

In the verses just before this passage, Paul says, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, any comfort from his love, any fellowship with the Spirit, any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” Jesus made himself humble, and even though he was God, he “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped [achieved].” So how can we? How can we possibly meet those standards if Jesus did not consider it possible for himself?

The answer? We do as Jesus did. Paul draws a parallel between “servant” and “human likeness,” between “man” and “humbled.” If we claim to be Christians, our actions and our attitudes should reflect to others the spirit of Jesus Christ. To serve is to love and to serve is to be loved. If we work for others, if we set aside our own desires and attitudes, then we truly bring that love to the world around us. We live for God.

And this is not just in vain hope. We will be recognized in the final days, for as “God exalted [Jesus] to the highest place,” we too will know the love of God and the reward he has for each of us. We will “shine like stars in the universe” and be raised from the death of the earth.

Prayer: May we learn to accept the help God has offered through his Son and his Spirit, and humble ourselves in front of God to become servants just as Christ Jesus did. May we trust in the Lord and give him our souls so that his light may shine through us, even in the darkest of days, until he comes for us and we may leave.

The 2015 Lenten reflections were submitted by staff, volunteers, board members, campers, and friends who have spent time at Camp Fowler in New York.

For this year’s Lent devotions, the days follow the Common Lectionary texts. Each author was invited to: 1.Read the passage.
2.Read a couple passages before and after the assigned day.
3.Do something else for the day, keeping the passage in mind.
4.Find a word/phrase/concept that connects with your own experience. Reflect on that.
You are encouraged to do the same.

March 26

Clarissa LaPlante served on day camp staff and is currently a student at Central College in Pella, Iowa.

Psalm 31:9-16

Upon first read, this psalm can make a person think some pretty depressing thoughts.

“My body and soul are withering away, I am in distress.”
This life is not worth living, there is suffering everywhere I look.
“Sin has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within.”
How am I to go on? The world isn’t getting better.
“I am despised by my neighbors; even my friends are afraid to come near me.”
Everyone has given up on me.
“I am ignored as if I were dead; I’ve heard many rumors about me.”
I can’t depend on anyone.
“I am surrounded by terror.”
There is nothing that can calm my fears.

If you stick with it, however, there’s hope:

“But I am trusting you; you are my God!”
You’re my hope, my light.
“My future is in your hands; rescue me.”
Take me out of this darkness.
“In your unfailing love, rescue me.”
I will praise you for your life-changing love!

Have you ever felt hopeless, lost, or alone? Ever looked around and thought that there is so much sin in the world that no one could ever save it? Surely David did. In this psalm he shows the truth of being a follower of God. You will still sin, there will still be pain in your life, and people may not like you. But we follow a gracious God. He is our fortress and our comfort in the storms of this world. God has given each of his followers a light to make the world shine. What will you do with yours?

Prayer: God, help us to not get bogged down by all the negativity of this world. Help us to see outside of our own situation, to focus on others. Let us look at the light we can bring instead of complaining about the dark. In this life we may get put down, taunted, and abused, but we know you are the rescuer, the savior. Thank you, Lord, for that. Help us to live as though we’ve been saved—as though today was the first day of our salvation. Amen.

The 2015 Lenten reflections were submitted by staff, volunteers, board members, campers, and friends who have spent time at Camp Fowler in New York.

For this year’s Lent devotions, the days follow the Common Lectionary texts. Each author was invited to: 1.Read the passage.
2.Read a couple passages before and after the assigned day.
3.Do something else for the day, keeping the passage in mind.
4.Find a word/phrase/concept that connects with your own experience. Reflect on that.
You are encouraged to do the same.

March 25

Jud Hoffman serves as a volunteer counselor and chair of Camp Fowler’s program committee. He is a special education teacher in Albany, New York.

Isaiah 50:4-9

Within one verse Isaiah mentions having the tongue of a teacher and being able to listen like a student. Any good teacher knows that sustaining the weary requires just as much listening as it does speaking!

The rest of the passage is Isaiah’s affirmation that God is by our side through the harshest of life’s challenges.

The season of Lent is the time to ask what words we use to teach others, knowing that our help is in God.

Ask yourself also if you are listening to God at your side, morning by morning.

Prayer: Lord, allow me to listen to you morning by morning, that I may have the tongue of a teacher.

The 2015 Lenten reflections were submitted by staff, volunteers, board members, campers, and friends who have spent time at Camp Fowler in New York.

For this year’s Lent devotions, the days follow the Common Lectionary texts. Each author was invited to: 1.Read the passage.
2.Read a couple passages before and after the assigned day.
3.Do something else for the day, keeping the passage in mind.
4.Find a word/phrase/concept that connects with your own experience. Reflect on that.
You are encouraged to do the same.

March 24

Melissa Brandes served as a Camp Fowler summer chaplain and currently volunteers as weekly chaplain. She is a Ph.D. student in Christian education at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.

Mark 11:1-11

The crowd shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” It is easy to hear these shouts as praise, but “hosanna” actually means “save now.” The people were crying out to this donkey-riding king for salvation. And they were probably remembering that King David’s son, Solomon, rode on a donkey when he became king (1 Kings 1:38), and that the prophet Zechariah foretold of a king who would come riding on a donkey to bring peace and salvation (Zechariah 9:9-17). The kingdom is coming! The king is here! Save us! Save us now!

Was it political salvation they sought? Or physical? Or spiritual? What did they long to be saved from? What did they long to be saved for? Today we might ask the same questions. What holds us captive as individuals, as a society, as a world? How do we steward the coming kingdom—the kingdom that is always in the active present tense, always breaking into the world?

As we ponder these questions alongside the shouting crowds, may God guide our reflection.

Prayer: Lord God, when we cry out to you for salvation, help us to see the places where your always-coming kingdom breaks into the world and beckons us toward freedom and peace. Give us the courage to follow you there. Amen.

The 2015 Lenten reflections were submitted by staff, volunteers, board members, campers, and friends who have spent time at Camp Fowler in New York.

For this year’s Lent devotions, the days follow the Common Lectionary texts. Each author was invited to: 1.Read the passage.
2.Read a couple passages before and after the assigned day.
3.Do something else for the day, keeping the passage in mind.
4.Find a word/phrase/concept that connects with your own experience. Reflect on that.
You are encouraged to do the same.