July 28-31, 2022
We took a break from the usual at Focus 2022, a multi-ethnic Christian camp in the middle of England. Like many of our other adventures during sabbatical, the onset was disorienting. Around 8,000 people tented at a campsite as big as a college campus, and we really didn’t know anyone at first.
We eventually found our groove once we discovered the ‘Canada Hut’ – a small cabin tucked away from the action with folding chairs out front, snacks from home, and familiar accents. It was great to mingle with Canadians who had flown over for Focus. Dave and Janelle from Toronto became fast friends at the hut and was fun to share notes on the camp and the UK in general.
Here are other highlights from Focus 2022:
- Worship in the Big Top – thousands of voices at full blast
- Lunch with Nikki and Sila Lee – meeting a couple we deeply admire, founders of the Alpha Marriage Course
- Healing in Anna’s leg – it’s bothered her for a year but has been substantively better since prayer at Focus
- Jo Saxton’s honest, passionate preaching
- Eve made a new best friend, Mila, and the two were inseparable all four days
- Lily didn’t make a friend – which was hard – but had some profound moments at Focus
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BONUS: Business Insights
I am very wary of self-styled business coaches and leadership consultants. They pop up way too often in my YouTube ads peddling get-rich-quick schemes. But one seminar that was worth the price of admission at Focus 2022 was with business coach Will van der Hart. Here are a few of his insights that resonated with me:
- The drive to succeed is one of the greatest enemies to mental health. Many of us are driven to summit, summit, summit – but long-haul endurance matters much more than hitting a few peaks. Moreover, great temptation often follows on the heels of great success (e.g., the neglected end of Gideon’s life)
- In other words, focus on living well and let ‘success’ can simply be a by-product. Instead of chasing after golden apples, become the kind of tree that produces them.
- Opportunities never dry up. We often think we have to take every opportunity that comes our way, especially if leaders we respect ask us. But it’s OK to say no; more opportunities will come.
- There’s always a crisis. We respond to them because it feels good to help. But some of us get addicted to always fixing problems.
- We can never get enough affirmation. We are born affirmation sieves – it flows right through us leaving us always wanting more. Find better footing by rooting your identity in God’s love.
