Campers, we have a bit of greenery at camp I bet you’ve never noticed. In front of the Dining Hall, there are two (very) tall ‘signal cedars’, one on either side of the main stairs onto the porch. While I don’t have any records to back this up, I bet they were planted there in the late 1970s when the Dining Hall was originally built. Over the past 40+ years, they’ve grown to over 30’ in height.
“So… why are these important and why, Cole, are you bringing them up now?” That’s a good question – I’m glad you asked.
Signal Cedars
Per my cousin who owns a ranch at which two of these massive trees stand, they’ve been used all over the country for a very long time. They are planted outside of homes, at the front of neighborhoods, outside of schools and churches and many other spots.
The purpose of the trees are to broadcast to everyone who can see them ‘you are welcome here.’ Now, you’d be hard pressed to see them in front of our Dining Hall, even from the Main Gate. But, when we visited our cousin’s ranch in Arizona, the Kelly boys and I could see the signal cedars planted outside their home from miles away.
Imagine riding on your horse or in your wagon as you moved West across the country. You’d be hungry, thirsty, dirty from the trail and more tired than you can imagine. And then, as you cross a high pass and look down in the valley, these trees stand out to you. They are a beacon of ‘welcome’, of hospitality in a sometimes-inhospitable world. You’d point your wagon their way.
What’s Your Signal?
If you’d not yet noticed, there is an election going on in the US. Those who are old enough and eligible will cast their ballots on local, state and federal elections between now and November 5th. There are a lot people who will be happy with the results. There will be a lot of people unhappy with them.
And, we still have to move forward as a community and a nation. We still need to be those people who welcome in those who need help, whether we agree or not with their choice of civil servants.
So… what kind of signal to you send out? We don’t have trees that can grow out of our heads that tell people, ‘stop on by!’ I’m sure that would do the exact opposite, in fact.
No, we’ve got a figure out another way. Here are a few that come to mind quickly:
- Do you smile easily and look people in the eye? Research shows that people who make eye contact and smile are rated much more approachable than others, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, socio-economic situation, political or religious views.
- What are you saying on the socials? The whole world is a billboard now and the view is through your comments, likes, posts, etc. on X, tiktok, Facebook and more. Marcus Aurelius reminds us that “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” Are you being humble and willing to listen?
- How do you act towards someone who can’t do a bit of good for you in the long term? Here’s a question: do you know the janitor’s name in your school or your building? What about the person who delivers your mail mixes your fun drink at the local store?
We are so pre-occupied with people who we’ll (most likely) never meet that we fail to get to know – even a little – the people make the small world around us better… even a little.
- Do you accept there are different viewpoints and culture as your own? We are lucky at Weequahic to have campers from 16 different US states and 12 different countries. What our campers from China experience is very different than those from Bethesda or Houston.
What can be thought as ‘acceptable opinions’ in Iowa could be different than those same choices on Long Island. AND THAT’S ACTUALLY GOOD! The greatest progress is made by people gathering together, sharing their viewpoints and knowledge and working, hand in hand, towards a common good.
Build Better Habits… and Show Courage
If you want to be better at sending ‘welcoming’ signals, smile more, look people in the eye, get to know their names. Reduce your focus from way, way out there to right around you, right now. (Like we do at camp!)
You may feel like you are missing out… at first. But, just like when we live for a day or two at camp phone-free, we realize all we need and want is right around us.
This is a habit, something that is formed with intentional effort over time until it becomes simply routine. And, it’s a routine that will make you more approachable, more welcoming. It’ll be your signal.
Have a great weekend.
