Felix The Cat

“Hey, there _________ you’re a real cool cat; you’ve got a lot of this and a lot of that; We all think that you’re real sweet so come on down and do the chickee, chickee beat!” If these words are foreign to you and you have been chickee chickee deprived in your life –let me explain. This Bible Camp campfire standard is a way to recognize kids and staff at camp by getting them on stage to do a silly dance that rejoices in the common identity of this week long community of self-imposed castaways escaping the grind of everydayness. O, this community has plenty of drama, pranks, flare ups and nonsense but it inevitably takes on the Spirit of God. Both campers and staff are immersed in a sense of Christian joy that transforms them. When parents arrive to reclaim their real cool cats they find a mixture of joy to see them but tears to leave their week long family.

Let me tell you about one of those real cool cats… William Felix the cat. William is a member at the May Street Church of Christ. William is a handsome African American young man who happens to be mentally challenged (but then aren’t we all). William by a landslide vote was our Mr. Camper for 2010. This honor is given to those who distinguish themselves through the week with acts of kindness, service and spiritual leadership. William was such and unlike Felix the cat who resolves things by pulling something out of his magic bag of tricks… our Felix just operated out of a heart for the Lord. William sat next to me one afternoon and preached to me the gospel of Christ. Now, I have to admit ashamedly that preachers don’t like to be preached to… because that’s kind of our territory. I fought through my natural aversion of, “Hey, who’s the expert here?” –to be still and listen. This cat knows the book but even more important he knows the Lord! So, I listened and said a few amen’s and felt the presence of the Savior.

At the banquet, the last night of camp, when William was recognized as Mr. Camper 2010, as is our custom last year’s winner puts a crown (a shiny cardboard Burger King type of affair) on the newly crowned winner. Usually, this crown doesn’t make it past the banquet and finds itself in the trash by the end of the night. William kept his on all night… and I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t wear it to church on Sunday! Yes, William you’re a real cool cat… you’ve got a lot of this and a lot of that… but most of all William you’re what camp is all about! -DAN