Camp is officially underway. Once again I have been coerced into be the Head Men’s counselor for Camp Zenith hosted on the campus of Oklahoma Christian University. I want everyone to think that I have been coerced. Those who know me well will point out that camp is actually is personal high point of the entire year.

Last night when I did dorm check I was not the least bit disappointed. The boys’ dorm rooms were giving off that familiar aroma of dirty socks and cologne. They are here to impress the girls, you know. There were already empty cans of Pringles, and enough clothes to open a second hand store strewn along the floor. I felt comforted in knowing that the younger generation is still holding on to time held and uniquely male camp traditions.

I was genuinely surprised by one event that took place not long before lights out last night. In my search for some needed paperwork, l happened upon the dorm room where several of the Granbury boys are staying. They thought they were in trouble when I showed up! When they figured out that they were actually innocent, each of them ran up to me and embraced me manly hugs. The boys from other youth groups looked at them like they had just flown in on a space ship from Mars. I could read their minds… Why are you hugging that old man?

I wanted to tell the boys from the other group the truth, but it would have been embarrassing to our guys. The truth is: our boys know that I love them. It really is that simple. They know I care about them. They know I am going to tease them unmercifully.

I was reminded of two important facts last night. The first one is: You don’t have to be cool to relate to teens. You just have to love them. They can sense it. Fifteen year old boys are not always real lovable. Their dorm rooms smell hideous. Their efforts to impress the girls more often than not are somewhat lacking. But occasionally you might get a very manly hug from them, and that is worth quite a bit in my estimation!

I was also reminded of a second fact. I have a huge responsibility toward these boys to conduct my life uprightly. They are taking cues from me today. As a fatherless 15 year old boy, I had great male role models in my later teen years . None of those men disappointed or embarrassed me by their conduct. I was very fortunate. I walked away last night feeling the weight of such a responsibility. It was the last thing on my mind as I drifted to sleep in my own dorm that smelled like a mixture of dirty socks and cologne…But wait a minute…I am not 15 years old!