Practical jokes aren’t always practical.?

I can honestly say it wasn’t my idea. A group of us youth workers were on the faculty for a week at a Christian camp. I can’t remember why it got started but I can remember who started it: the ordained elder senior pastor in the group who shall remain nameless but some of you reading this? know EXACTLY who I mean.? ?

We were hanging out at the pool while the campers were at Rest Hour. He-who-shall-not-be-named Sr. Pastor said, “Let’s play a trick on the camp leader. We’ll call on the pool emergency phone and say I broke my leg down here at the pool. When he comes running, we’ll bomb him with these here water balloons.” Balloons were filled, broken leg was staged and call was made.?

Four things we didn’t take into consideration when “in the moment” of? prank-planning:? ? ? ?

1) The camp leader’s brand new boss was sitting in his office for said leader’s? first evaluation.? ? 2) Hurricane Erin was less than 24 hours from landfall. 3) It was also Special Needs Camp week; always a challenge. 4) A 911 call would be placed.

? Four things I learned that day:

1) A camp radio CAN bust into a million pieces when slammed on concrete by an upset camp leader. 2) I now know what “a few choice words” means. 3) No, I am not too old to ground myself to my camp room without any supper. 4) There aren’t enough late night sundaes at the local Denny’s to make the shame go away (though several of us involved tried).? ? ?

Epilogue:

1) Its still referred to today in hushed tones as “the incident.” I bet several of you (who were involved and have been waiting for this story) are surprised that it’s not #1 on the countdown list of my worst youth ministry moments. How bad could #1 be? Pretty bad. You’ll see.? ? 2) And yet, I still get asked back to? speaker at that camp. God (and the camp leader) is merciful.?

Moral of the story: ? Be practical and just don’t do it. Set someone else up to do it if you must and watch from afar, but just don’t do it yourself.

Stephanie