7 Days {edited}

Four

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

What? No. That couldn't be right. Scientists have proven that evolution is how the world came to be. Even if they haven't found all the evidence, it's still true. Right?

Brett went on the speak about how God made light and dark. That this Higher Being just said, "Let there be light," and there was suddenly light and darkness. But no day and night yet? It didn't even make sense.

How could there be light without daytime? Or darkness without nighttime? Besides, there was no sun, moon, or stars yet. I was pretty sure Brett was making this all up.

But then he picked up the Bible and started quoting scripture. It was all in the Bible!

He said he would speak about the other six days of Creation throughout the week. This was not okay. I was an evolutionist. Maybe not scientifically, not professionally, but I definitely didn't believe all this crap about light and dark.

There was no proof. Who said the Bible was even true anyway?

Everything was fine until Brett opened that stupid book.

- - -

After the session, we had small groups. My group consisted of the people in my dorm. Our leader was this blonde girl named Sarah, who looked to be in her mid-twenties.

Since it was the first night, she wanted everyone to go around the circle and introduce themselves.

"I'm Jordyn. This is my last year at Encounter Camp, 'cause I'm a senior. I like to play sports, especially soccer."

"My name's Cami. Makeup is my passion! I'm going to beauty school next fall. This is also my last year at camp."

"I'm Emily. I work at Chick-Fil-A, and I'm a senior. I like shopping and reading."

Sarah looked at me pointedly. Oh. Guess it was my turn.

"Uh, I'm Rain. I..." What should I say? I never knew how to describe myself. Finally I finished: "I work at Chick-Fil-A with Emily. I love reading."

"Cool! So, moving on," said Sarah. "What did you guys think of the message?"

"It was good," Emily replied. "I liked what he said about God being the only light needed. Since there was no sun or moon."

"I thought it was cool," Jordyn agreed.

"I think it's so cool how 'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth' is the first verse in the whole Bible. It's like...a promise. Proof. That He created everything. It was the starting point of all life." That was Cami.

"And you?" Sarah asked me.

"Um...it was..." Terrible. Horrible. Wrong. Stupid. Untrue. Crazy. "Okay."

"Do you guys have any questions about the message?"

I could name a few. Like: why does everyone believe that bull?! But I kept my mouth shut.

No one else said anything either. "No questions? Okay, cool. I'm glad you guys understood. But let me know if there's anything you're unsure about." Sarah smiled. She had a pretty smile. "Can I take prayer requests?"

Jordyn raised her hand. "My dad is up for a new job. I want him to get it but...it's five hours out of Chicago."

"Oh." Sarah wrote something in her notebook, a frown on her lips. "Is it a good job?"

"Yeah... I mean I want him to get it, but my whole life is in Chicago. If we move, I'll still be here for college. So I'll have to drive a long way to visit them."

"Ah. I see. Anyone else?"

"I just want to focus on God this week. Not my makeup and the boys around me," Cami confessed.

Sarah wrote that down too.

Emily and I were silent.

"Okay, let's pray together." Sarah clasped my hand, making me flinch. Then I saw her reach for Cami's hand. Everyone in the circle held hands while Sarah prayed. Okay...that was kind of weird.

When she was finished praying, I opened my eyes and quickly removed my hand from her grasp. "Can we go back to the room?" I asked.

"Yeah, I think that's on the schedule anyway," Emily replied.

"K." We headed out of the chapel and towards the dorms.

Maybe I wasn't cut out for all this religious stuff. I didn't believe a word.