Beyond Camp Student EditionSample

What’s That Smell?

I just learned that fish in polluted waters are losing their sense of smell. I’d never really thought about fish smelling anything, but according to an article in Scientific American, fish need their sense of smell to find food. Without it, they could starve.

We don’t live underwater, but there’s a similar danger to us when we allow our minds to become “polluted.”

The world is full of opportunities to fill our minds with impure, evil thoughts. When our minds are polluted, it’s easy to lose our sense of right and wrong. We end up “hopelessly confused.” Before long, we can find ourselves starving spiritually and doing things we never thought we would do.

The good news for fish is that if they find their way to clean water, they regain their sense of smell within twenty-four hours. At camp, you may have found a place of “clean water,” where the pollutants of the world weren’t as obvious. You may have felt closer to God there than you have in a long time.

Now that you’re back home, watch out for those negative influences that can cause you to lose your way. Rely on the Spirit of God to “renew your thoughts and attitudes” every day. That way, when pollutants bubble up, you’ll be able to identify and avoid them.

Written by Steve Collins, South Mountain Christian Camp

What are some negative influences in your life that threaten to “pollute” your mind? What can you do to avoid or reduce those negative influences?

Dear Jesus, I want my thoughts and actions to be led by You, not the world. Renew my mind today so that I don’t lose my way, and help me to follow You.