God Smiles

“I like to think of myself bending down to pick up trash and God smiling at me” - Ethan

I worked as a lifeguard at Sky Ranch over the summer of 2024 and had the greatest blessing of meeting so many awesome people who taught me many invaluable lessons! One lesson taught by one of my A-Teamers, Ethan, sticks out to me in particular. It was maybe my third day on camp, I was a little bit overwhelmed trying to learn people’s names and figure out where my activities are, but I took the time to crack open my Bible on my lunch break. I was in the staff lounge (aka “OE”) sitting on a chair and reading through Ecclesiastes when this guy I had seen around a couple times just squats down next to me.

“What are you reading?” He asked.

“Ecclesiastes” I replied, showing him my annotated pages.

“Love that book. What do you think the biggest lesson you’re learning right now is?”

Now, allow me to pause and give some context before continuing the story. I was learning a LOT as I read through Ecclesiastes. I had never before read it and the only verse I knew for sure was found within its pages was that one about “vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” But as I dug into this book over the summer I was reminded of the importance of the fear of God and was challenged to find joy in my toil. Those pages of my Bible which previously had never been touched were filling up fast with notes and prayers, highlights and cross-references. However, when put on the spot by a guy whose name I couldn’t even remember at the time, I stuttered through my response.

“Um, well, I guess just the importance of finding joy in work.”

Ethan was not bothered by my lack of confidence, nor did he even slow down. He just jumped right in with encouragement.

“Man I love that! I like to think of myself just taking the time to bend down and pick up a piece of trash and God smiling at me.”

I agreed. He thanked me for sharing and encouraged me to keep digging in and the interaction was over.

I made a note of his words in my Bible, along with the date, and then scurried to my next activity. Not really giving them a second thought. Subconsciously though I seem to have remembered them all these months later. I find myself saying things like “God is smiling upon me” when good things happen and, inspired by the gratitude list of another camp friend, I even started a chart of all of “God’s Smiles Towards Me” by writing down one happy thing from each day. I was doing all of this just on my own not really knowing where the idea first came from until the other day, I was searching for a Psalm, and my Bible fell open to that page in Ecclesiastes. I was reminded of who first gave me the phrase and I was once again immeasurably grateful for the experience I got to have this summer.

I have been encouraged to once again find joy in my work now that I’m home. Although school work and “real world” jobs aren’t quite as much fun as sitting by a pool wearing a whistle, I can still love my job because I know for Whose glory I am doing it. I have been reminded that just the simple act of bending down to pick up trash, but doing so with a willing and humble heart, is enough to make God smile.