Day #2 at Camp Zenith…. It has been a day of water slides, drama groups, and even a guest band tonight in addition to the rich spiritual food that the campers are receiving.  But for me it has been a little different.  Last night and today has been a time for interaction with campers and a former exotic dancer as well.  Yes I know…I have some explaining to do.

In 2009, a book entitled: Scars and Stilettos: The Transformation of an Exotic Dancer, was released.  The author is former exotic dancer, Harmony Dust.  It is a amazing autobiography.  I started reading it last night and finished it this afternoon. 

It is a story of brokenness, horrific sexual abuse, and emotional abandonment. The book also provides insight into the dark world of the adult “entertainment” industry, as it is called.  Harmony is a great writer.  Her descriptions of customers who frequented the club where she danced is a pretty good commentary on the depravity of human nature.  

I found her story to be compelling.  The events of her childhood and adolescent years are indeed heartbreaking.  An absent father and a mother who was less than responsible in some ways created an environment in her home where important boundaries become fluid.   As a young person, she was left unprotected.  The home became a context where there was a great propensity for sexual abuse to occur.  And it did…over and over again.  There were several perpetrator…

Harmony’s story is one of hope.  She walked away from the dancing job, where she made up to $1,000.00 per night.  She found healing and restoration.  She is now married with a small child.   While she was still working at the club, she found a church that embraced her in a spirit of Christ like love.  The experience at that church led to the transformation that is described in the book.  Today she works with a non-profit organization that reaches out to women trapped in prostitution, exotic dancing and the pornography industry.

How does Harmony’s story relate to camp this week?  Ironically in a staff meeting this morning someone pointed out that our campers are comprised more and more each year of “unchurched” kids who come from all kinds of home backgrounds.   I am pretty confident that there are young girls and boys too who are being raised in homes much like Harmony’s.  I hope this week at camp that relationships are being formed that will help them to feel loved, accepted and valued like they never have before.  Perhaps camp can be a key event that circumvents the trek down the dark road that Harmony chose.  So….we proceed with Day #2 here at Camp Zenith.