Quix's Recent Warrior At Heart Men's Camp Experiences & Perspective

The curious space between Quix's ears | 7 May 2012 | Quix

[Quix]

QUIX’S
WARRIOR AT HEART CAMP
EXPERIENCES & PERSPECTIVES

This past Thursday evening through Sunday noon, I was blessed by a precious wheel-chair-bound church brother (agent orange afflicted vet) with a pre-paid WARRIOR AT HEART CAMP weekend at CAMP RED CLOUD high up in the Colorado mountains from Lake City Colorado. It is reportedly the most remote camp facility of its type in the Nation.

The structure of the experience was somewhat conventional.

A) There were the John Eldridge WILD AT HEART videos. Warrior At Heart is an off-shoot of that movement began by John Eldridge (RANSOMED HEART).

B) There were teaching/coaching sessions by the founder: Randy VanConett—a developer by profession.

C) The food was abundant, quality and fantastically prepared for man-sized appetites by a crack group of volunteers.

D)The spiritual food was above average in terms of quality and candid, vulnerable, REAL presentation by Randy and others.

E) Teaching videos were interspersed with very fitting and impactful main-stream movie clips from BRAVE HEART, THE GLADIATORS, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, Bill Murray’s GROUNDHOG DAY, THE MATRIX, etc.

F) The individual teaching/coaching segments by Randy et al were typically quite vulnerable content-wise. They were candid, nitty-gritty, practical, humble, Biblical, down-to-earth, touching, empathetic, vivid, often heart-wrenching, inspiring . . .

G) Each session began with worship music via professional groups via an MP3 player. The technical video and sound aspects were top flight EXCEPT that the volume on the music and some of the videos was typically in the 95-96db range—DEFINITELY permanently damaging to ears over time. Given that even my 60+ year old ears are clearly not as damaged as the younger rock music addicted folks, I used my sound-canceling earphones or I’d not have been able to sit through such segments. This was my only serious negative of significant intensity and import.

H) Most sessions concluded with some minutes for participants’ questions or sharing of their stories relative to what had been presented. There were always some who were brave enough to talk plenty about their personal narratives on such topics.

I) One of the main and early topics was related to John Eldridge’s video segment on THE POSER. I think this is one of the best aspects of Eldridge’s series and of the Warrior At Heart camp experiences. Most men live saturated with the training, roles, conditioning, compulsions, pride, exhaustion, manipulative farces, hypocrisies, futilities . . . of THE POSER role, choices, mannerisms, attitudes, games. The participants were typically very vulnerable and clearly growing and overcoming such POSER related issues and habits throughout the Camp. Certainly the presenters were candid and vivid in relating their own narratives in overcoming such habits, attitudes and roles.

J) There were also afternoon time periods devoted to optional activities like skeet-shooting, fishing, horseback riding, rappelling, hiking etc. I chose rappelling. I loved it. Climbing the hill was a bit of a challenge given some physiological aspects of my 60+ years.

K) There were prayer periods in small groups and in the large group. Addictions were dealt with at deeper levels. Soul-ties were spiritually and prayerfully cut from past relationships, co-dependencies etc.

L) Bedtime was typically after 22:00 and we were not asleep until after midnight any night. Breakfast was at 08:00. Optional morning prayer time was between 07:00-07:45ish.

M) A powerful, anointed Ex-felon and a variety of others who were “PhD’s in the School of Hard Knocks” were among the presenters and volunteer staff of the Camp.

N) None of the Warrior at Heart personnel receive any personal income as part of the organization or camp leadership. Not a penny. The camps for men cost each participant or donor $150 per man. It costs Warrior at Heart $300 per man to put the camp on. They invite donations ONCE at the end—with no great pressure tactics—to cover the difference. There were 30 something participants at the recent camp.

O) RedCloud Camp is probably the best quality camping facility I’ve been at. The main huge lodge was originally constructed by the MD inventor of dialysis to enable children on dialysis to go to the mountains with their families, receive dialysis and then go out in the beautiful setting and have fun for hours at a time. The pics at their website can give you a good clue of the quality plant and equipment. There is a lower and upper ropes course at the camp. It was closed during my time there; due to some needed repairs and training for new staff.

MY EXPERIENCE

My own experience at the recent camp was quite worthwhile. I’m always a bit extravagant in my hopes and expectations. So on the ride home, I asked the leader and another man what percentage of their expectations had been reached. They both said 100%. One of them returned the question and I said 70%.

Given the time constraints, I don’t know that I could have reasonably expected much more than I received. I suppose some of the afternoon ‘free time’ periods could have been taken better advantage of, had I focused on doing so. However, I’ve long ago given up the sort of compulsive striving I used to engage in at such events to try and maximize my experiences there. So I didn’t initiate many dialogues with those who hung around the camp. Nor did I ask any to go with me on my hike to the chapel on a nearby hill. I was not interested in fishing nor skeet shooting so that nixed fellowship opportunities there. Horseback riding is not a particularly great context for intense dialogue. Besides, I’d grown up with horses with ambivalent to averse feelings toward them, so I left all that to those interested, as well.

I was eager to try the rappelling since I’d rappelled down a building demonstrating escape equipment after 9/11 and found that fun. I was concerned that my physiological challenges would make climbing the hill impossible but was glad to find that was wrong. I was urged on by one of our group and was glad I went ahead with it. Next time, I think I’ll be more daring and take bigger ‘free-fall’ type ‘jumps’ down the cliff face. I MAY upload a couple of pics of me on the cliff face later. The pics only show the lower half of the cliff, however. The upper half was significantly steeper. LOL.

Spiritually, I was touched in briefer more subtle yet touching ways than I typically hope for. Once, a speaker mentioned how he was amidst some brothers who were talking about the verse in Revelation of receiving a new name. And he was sort of bemoaning with God that God had seemed to be silent about it. Then, in his narrative of his story, God highlighted the name and Biblical character of David.

AT that MOMENT, as he spoke, The Lord flooded me with inexplicable and unexpected joyful weeping. I’ve long had an attraction to King David . . . as well as Daniel. And I’ve often been likened to Jeremiah. And certainly at that time in the weekend, I had no expectation of any particularly special touch from The Lord. I still don’t know what to make of it. Yet, somehow, The Lord seemed to touch some things very deeply within me in those few minutes. And, I’ve come away with more confidence, a greater sense of worth in His sight and more boldness to walk as He seems to lead me to walk.

I tend to be one looking for chances to jump out of the boat and walk on the water toward Jesus. He seems to keep insisting on touching me in brief, more subtle ways in fairly isolated moments and without a lot of intellectual ‘noise’ clouding up or interpreting the experience. It’s somewhat like He’s doing surgery under anesthetic—at least without much articulated conscious awareness on my part.

And, during the clip from THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST—ending with Christ’s startling look on the cross after very drawn-out vivid reliving of the tortures up to that moment in getting Him on the cross and it erected with such joltings . . . I’d avoided watching some of the lead-up but forced myself to watch the last several minutes of that clip . . . and yet again I was overcome with convulsive tears at His infinite sacrifice and Love in my behalf. That was a very cathartic, enlivening, blessed touch from The Lord, too.

Many of the men experienced a ton of growth, catharsis, public confession and public repentance—all voluntary—and I enjoyed seeing The Lord move in such regards and ways. In my case, I’ve been through all that in more than quadruplicate in a diversity of settings so it was not surprising that I had nothing to volunteer of such weightiness and felt led to keep my peace and let others make use of the limited time. I was quite willing to be fully vulnerable. I just didn’t feel led to replay old tapes and scenarios just to join the club of those doing so in that setting.

In quick summary—given lunch with Pastor shortly—I’ll just add that it was definitely worth the time and bother. I definitely feel closer to God than I did before. I feel energized, uplifted, encouraged, more confident, more worth-while to myself and The Lord’s Kingdom; more directed and focused. And I feel even more keenly than before that time is racing through our fingers.

I feel even more strongly than before that we must work while there is light as the DARKNESS is definitely falling increasingly rapidly.

And, I have even more love than before, for all those I see, love and touch.

Maybe I’ll have more to add later.

WARRIOR AT HEART STATEMENT OF FAITH:

http://waheart.com/statementoffaith

UPCOMING WARRIOR AT HEART EVENTS:

http://www.waheart.com/menevents

WARRIOR AT HEART MISSION from an older website:

• To wake up men
• To offer a call to arms and show men their worth
• To open the eyes of men to the real world around them
• To get them to stand up and come to life


http://www.warrior-heart.com/

[Quix]

I strongly encourage any man to take advantage of such an organization and weekend experience. It is well worth it.

[Quix]

PING for those interested . . .

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Tax-chick]

I’m so pleased for you, FRiend Quix! I have just re-read John Eldredge’s book “Waking the Dead” this week.

[G Larry]

Looking at property there....just missed a shot at a place above Lake San Cristobal.

[johngrace]

Dear Bro_ Thank you for the ping. Truly inspiring. I have gone to "Worship in the Woods" weekends(Let's Talk about Jesus ministry) once a year in Upstate New Jersey. Truly inspiring moments in my Life.

I remember when I first saw "The Passion Of Christ" I walked out in the the long torture scenes with the profound horror. Tears in my eyes.

How much does he care? He stretched his arms. He showed this much with his arms and died for us.

John15

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

14 You are my friends if you do what I command.

15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.

Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit —fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

17 This is my command: Love each other.

You Friend/brother in Christ Jesus! AMEN!!

[EnglishCon]

Thank you for the report and the witnessing! A retreat is refreshing, to say the least!

Sometimes we learn ourselves best when we listen to others. Not just their speech, but their silences. Forget who said that, but it is a truth.

Bless you my friend. I am truly happy you had this opportunity.

[wolfcreek]

We camped for 5 days farther up that same road (elev. 10,600 ft.) several years back.

Easily one of the most beautiful and isolated areas I've ever had the pleasure to visit in Co.

Glad you enjoyed the trip.

[Quix]

THANKS for your kind words.

Would you be willing to give your summary? I’m sure more than I might be interested in reading it from your summary.

[Quix]

WOW. A wise move.

Maybe something else in the area will come up. I couldn’t believe that in the small hamlet of Lake City there were a handful of REALATORS! LOL.

I believe God has some interesting things in store for that area.

[Quix]

WOW. A wise move.

Maybe something else in the area will come up. I couldn’t believe that in the small hamlet of Lake City there were a handful of REALATORS! LOL.

I believe God has some interesting things in store for that area.

[jackv]

Sounds beautiful, Quix! Thanks for sharing!

[Lee N. Field]

A couple quick thoughts, and I'll read this over in more detail later.

J) There were also afternoon time periods devoted to optional activities like skeet-shooting, fishing, horseback riding, rappelling, hiking etc. I chose rappelling. I loved it. Climbing the hill was a bit of a challenge given some physiological aspects of my 60+ years.

Why is is that church-y men's group outings always do shotgun? Give me steel plate shooting, or an urban carbine class. Shotgun I am not good at.

M) A powerful, anointed Ex-felon and a variety of others who were “PhD’s in the School of Hard Knocks” were among the presenters and volunteer staff of the Camp.

"Ex"-felon? He may be out of jail, but he wouldn't be an ex-felon unless his conviction was overturned. And he better not be handling the bang-stick. Naughty-naughty.

[Quix]

ABSOLUTELY INDEED.

Excellent points.

Thx thx

[Quix]

WELL PUT.

THX THX for your wonderful comment and kind response.

[Quix]

YES. It is certainly “God’s country.”

Evidently Heaven has mountains, too.

LUB

[Quix]

I see your chronic faithfulness to throwing rocks strides on unabated.

No, the felon did not go shooting, that I know of. I don’t recall the details of his legal stuff but there were several utter miracles involved.

[Quix]

THANKS for your kind and encouraging reply.

[Tax-chick]

Would you be willing to give your summary?

I will, sometime later today. Right now I need to water my vegetable gardens and then go to Weight Watchers!

[Quix]

No sweat. Whenever you can manage it on top of your abundant tasks!

LUB