My family is a multicultural soup. I am primarily of Hispanic heritage. This never made me feel different living in Houston. There are so many non-European cultures and ethnic groups here.
More unusual was growing up non-religious in an area where my neighbors often dress their best to attend church on Sunday mornings. They went to one of those traditional buildings with the tall steeples still here in the inner-city. But I never brought up the subject of why we did not go.
So, my mother surprised me when she arranged for me to attend a summer camp sponsored by one of the city’s mega-churches. That there might be a religious element to it didn't overly concern me. There was only a twinge of unease when mom needed to borrow a bible for me. This might expose my ignorance to some ritual.
But mainly, I considered it as a rare break from the blistering heat of the Texas summer. Despite not knowing anyone else on the bus, the shared excitement made it easy to join in conversations and make new friends. I was glad nobody asked about my church habits.
A hundred miles from Houston, I arrived at Camp Palacios. I knew of trees and lakes from city parks, but never appreciated that they could appear to be everywhere. The bus seemed to drive into their world.
At camp, fun activities included volleyball, canoeing, and water sports. In the evenings after recreation, the adults talked to us regarding religion. I am surprised how much I remember. Several of the stories involved devils. But they were not frightening. There was a master devil teaching apprentices how to bring down their human clients. One case involved a good-looking girl. The master taught they instruct her that to be humble she needed to believe she wasn't pretty. Since she could see otherwise in a mirror, this meant she had to accept a lie. This is the first step in turning her into thinking to be 'saved' she must consent to untruths.
The point of this story was we are all different. Some receive more than others. We should view all we have as gifts. Thus, we are not to look down on those with less. And, the unfortunate should not be mad at their situation. Our final destiny will rectify inequities. Yet, I thought of helping people in the here and now Another surprise came when they spoke of wisdom. I always believed this developed with age. The old man with a beard who learned by his mistakes personifies the idea. The camp taught this to be incorrect. Instead, a wise individual is one who decides what to avoid before finding out the hard way. This means that teens can be as wise as anyone.
The week ended with an exercise in “silent self-examination.” This requires peering inside yourself to see where you find comfort. Wrong answers are cell phones or clothes. The right answer is your character. This experience led to a decision that my career goal should aim at something greater than mere self interest. I can't change the world but I can apply myself to helping society. Only a career that provides value can tap into the inner resources needed for the demands of academic and business life.
Unfortunately, college has many distractions. I hear summer camps often have a more rigid structure and schedule. But, my convictions are now well rooted. I will shine as someone with self-discipline and purpose.
While raised in a somewhat disadvantaged setting, I enjoyed the love of a wonderful family. This shaped me into an optimistic and trusting person ready for life's challenges.