My first drive into Ocean City, on NJ-52 was full of anticipation and excitement for the unknown. Everything that would happen in the next 30 minutes would help generate my first impression of where I would be spending the next two months of my life on Project. It would be the first time I’d drive on the roads, smell the beach, hear the noise, taste the salty air, see where I would be living and what the famous “Ambassador’s Inn” would really look like. All of these things combined would create this belief and understanding of this unknown place, leaving a lasting effect on me regardless of how near or far it actually was from the truth. After an hour or so of this surreal island living, one word (or name) came to mind: Stepford.
The entire island has an oasis of serenity, nothing troubled, nothing out of place. The condos and homes lining the streets are painted in pastels with big white porches hanging off of every floor, the sidewalks are clean, people keep to themselves, there are numerous coffee shops, donut shops, ice cream parlors, delis that give the Island even more of a unique character. There is the boardwalk which is a few blocks down from where the students and staff are residing, which everyday is full of people of all ages. Is this reality? People actually spend their entire year living in a place like this?
As staff, we are about to finish our forth week here on Project, and we have another four to go. We find ourselves at the halfway point in Project, realizing the time that we have had has flown by and not ignoring the fact that the next four will come just as quickly if not quicker. I have learned to embrace this “Stepford Reality” and look at both the pros and cons of this living situation that I have found myself in. As a Project we have 35 staff members and 101(?) students who have traveled from all over the country to spend their summer here in Ocean City, NJ. I have never seen a staff team (especially the Leadership) who are so wise and passionate about their job. I have been able to observe how the married couples (with and/or without children) relate, speak and love one another, I have been able to see how determined they are to make God the center of their marriage and their lives, which has only deepened that desire in my own heart. The students here are the “spiritual-breadwinners”. They are passionate, on-fire for Jesus and want to do everything to serve and Love Him with their complete hearts. Seeing all of these things has only encouraged and blessed me since being here.
It’s the ideal ministry world. I have the most beautiful and wonderful (5) girls who I have been given the privilidge to disciple while I’m here and lead an Action Group with. We have the ideal staff team, where people are alligned and excited for why they are here and for what they’re doing, the ideal opportunities and conversations while we spend hours on the boardwalk/beach sharing, the ideal weekly meetings and talks that have been prepared for the Project, the ideal amount of time set aside for personal devotional times (2 hours)… everything, taking on that “Stepford” feeling of perfection. I am in a “Spiritual Bubble”… and I am loving it. However, I need to realize that when I return home (personal life, church, home campuses, staff team, students, etc) things aren’t perfect (and really, things aren’t perfect here on the Island either). In preparation of leaving the Island, I need to realize that this entire experience has been and will continue to be a “mountain top” experience. The total eight weeks that I will be so blessed to be able to spend here on Project will be the highlight of my ministry, and that it’s the best of so many worlds thrown onto one island off the coast of New Jersey.
It’s important for me to realize that I shouldn’t think too much into this idea that Project is the “ideal, perfect world” (because it isn’t). Really, I, and the Project itself, has been blessed by the staff, the students and the location that we’ve been given, to really make this Project an amazing experience for all of those who are involved. For the next four weeks, I hope and pray to allow myself to dive in even deeper with the circumstances and opportunities that have been given to me, to take FULL ADVANTAGE of these “ideal things”, and to really allow it to be a refreshing time for me as I engage in this community, these relationships and the training that I am getting as a staff member. As I return, I only hope that I would be able to take what I have learned and apply these things to my life at home.
