Why Young People (like me) are Stupid

This week I had the privilege to attend a conference in my field – Christian Camping.  I’ve been doing this for years.  By my count, this was my 5^th time at this regional event, and my 8^th conference over all.  Here’s the sad truth that lingered at the back of my mind (somewhere between my collar and my bald spot) as I hustled through vendor halls, workshops, and as many snack tables as my conscience would allow:  Youth often goes along with arrogance, and the two make a dangerous pair.

As a young camp leader, I thought I was the stuff.  I actually went to these conferences asking myself, “How can I teach this dying industry about my brilliant approach to camp ministry?”  Once, at age 25 no less, a workshop instructor called in sick, and I rushed in at the last second and volunteered to teach his session.  I got up in front of a group of camp leaders who were, on average, 15-20 years more experienced than I was, and tried to let them know what was wrong with all of our ministries.  Why they didn’t walk out, I’ll never know.  Maybe they did, and I was just too blinded by my own “creative vision” to notice. 

At 22, I remember hearing an older presenter say something like, “Everything I know, I learned by making a mistake.”  I thought it was a cute line.  What a great way to parry away a compliment with humility. 

I now know that it was a simple fact – completely devoid of sarcasm or exaggeration. 

I am on pace to make every possible mistake in my field by the year 2020.  That may seem like a long time, but let me remind you that I’m not even learning how to hang a photo properly without screwing it up a few times first, so in the grand scheme of things, I’m flying. 

I already know that you should always chain an outboard motor to its corresponding boat (because it turns out motors don’t float in upsidedownish situations).  I know that it’s not safe to assume that a camp van can make a 4 hour trip in less than 6 hours (in fact when it comes to vans, its not safe to assume anything).  Finally, I’ve learned that everything in camp – everything – has the magical ability to move itself, break itself, disassemble itself, or beam itself aboard the starship Enterprise if it is not actively in my hand or within range of my view. 

Its taken me 5 years of ongoing failure to learn that my “best” is still not good enough.  I find labor law confusing.  I don’t have answers for times when campers ask some very good questions.  I can’t remember how to tie a bowline, and sometimes I get bored in my own staff training lessons. 

I’ve learned a lot about the myriad idiosyncrasies of camp operations and I will keep learning (which is to say I’ll keep breaking, losing, and forgetting things) as long as I continue to do my work.  The most important thing that has now become apparent though, is that I, and so many young leaders like me, am not as smart as I thought I was.

Yes, occasionally there are white-haired leaders of failing camps who are out of touch with modern trends.  But the greatest minds in our industry wear the same disguise.  Their years have made them wise, and have worn their pride down to something much more useful:  Patient confidence.