Called to Culver

[My apologies to blog readers who expect a different kind of post from me. Indulging in some reflective personal journaling this month.....]

Written Tuesday, October 5, 2010........

It is an absolute gorgeous Autumn day as I sit in the sunshine by the Vandalia Park Lighthouse, Town of Culver, Indiana. It is 4 pm. I’m all alone, listening to crickets and the lap of the lakeshore. I encountered a couple in love, hand in hand, an exercise walker, and three children talking quietly on a park bench. Otherwise, blessed solitude....as I like it.

The water is crystal clear as usual. Such paradise. I love it here. Why did I ever leave when the LORD led us to Culver from Massachusetts in October 1977. We rented the “mansion” on Lake Shore Drive, just behind me, across from the Beach Lodge, for only $200 a month from October to June. Fond memories. Like the memorable Blizzard of ’78. And some, not so fond....like the bad case of flu that lasted nearly a month after getting the “swine flu” vaccine. And the loneliness and strangeness I felt here at the time, having never lived in another part of the country before. It was so different from what I was used to. And I did not know the LORD then. I did not perceive His Hand in leading us here 33 years ago this month. Oddly, I was 33 years old when I came to know the LORD...actually 3 days and 3 months before my 33rd birthday. 33 seems like a significant number in my life. It’s even in my phone number.

A half mile from where I now sit is where I now work—Culver Academies. I can see the staff swimming pier from here, currently hosting gulls and a lone sandhill crane. The private beach/pier is just steps from the front door of the Linden/Ithaca dorm I am privileged to keep clean. Love it. A placement from Heaven. Compatibility all around. A miracle. “Dreams come true at Lindenland” the sign on the bedsheet said. (The girls decorated their dorms in a Disney/Peter Pan theme.) I’m told I’m “a breath of fresh air” and doing “an awesome job”. Wow! Me? who can’t seem to clean her own cluttered house and hates housework? This is SO like the LORD to take me out of my comfort zone and show me His grace and power to transform. I am really getting a workout on this job. I have lost almost 15 lbs. since I started working here on August 19. My skinny jeans fit me that I never thought I would be able to wear again. I work hard, got my first callous; did not even know what it was. I guess I have not worked hard enough all my life. I am gaining fitness, which is one of my motivations for taking this “menial” job. This is turning out to be the best job ever. I much prefer it to computer/office work. The time goes by quickly. Lunch in the Dining Hall is free and has very good food, with healthy selections. Looking forward to meeting the Director of Food Services, who happens to be someone my son played with every day at age 8 during our 8 months living in Culver. I also look forward to meeting Culver’s part-time historical archivist who is also the Editor of the Culver Citizen newspaper. He is a young man I met online ten years ago as President of the Dave Van Ronk fan club. Van Ronk was an obscure folk musician.....with a fan from Culver of all places. I used to play Van Ronk’s rendition of Urge for Going in 1978. Maybe Jeff heard the music wafting from my front porch as he passed my house at age 4. Such a small world.

I enjoy having lunch with my husband nearly every day, who also works here at the Academies. This is a great sunset career for me, and the physical fitness will prepare me to hike the hills of Israel someday.

The three boys are playing in the park now, tossing a plastic bottle in the air, pretending it is a football, playing tag. Seems like time stands still in this town. It is still 1960 here. The foliage is brilliant. The temperature, about 70 degrees. Idyllic. A towering sycamore tree graces the sand beach, along with a family of ducks.

I saw Weston on campus yesterday. He said, “So glad you’re here.” I said, “Finally!” It has taken three years to be hired at Culver. I first became enamored of the Academies in 2007 when my grandson attended Woodcraft Camp. Weston was his Counselor and a wonderful inspiration. Being hired here was all in the LORD’s timing I suppose. I thought I would start out working with the horses, but that did not happen. “To everything there is a season...” How often did I ponder and pray on that park bench at Lilac Point near the Huffington Library. “Turn, turn, turn.....” was the last part of the quotation on the nameplate. If I turned my head I could see Linden-Ithaca dorm. Who knew that it would one day be “my” building. God knew. He gave me the best building on campus – spectacular view of the lake from the second story “treehouse” lounge, newish construction, delightful, considerate, friendly girls who make my job easy and pleasant. I love watching the girls go off to class, riding lessons, other activities. I feel like a “mom” again. I don’t mind dusting around their golf clubs, riding boots, and other paraphernalia related to the amazing opportunities they have at this school. From sailing instruction to rowing, riding, fencing, flight simulation, theatre, band, basketball....the sky is the limit when it comes to academic and extracurricular activities.

I love this little town. So peaceful. A resort town in summer, it is quiet now. Artists and writers call Culver home. So do I. I call it my home away from home. I hope to continue to write my thoughts from this location. I look forward to experiencing the beauty of the four seasons from the many scenic Lake Maxinkuckee vantage points here in town and on Campus. Feeling very blessed.