"Secret Place"

There is nothing more comforting than the feeling I get when picking up my guitar and singing praises to our Wonderful Creator. When all around me is hectic with school, friends, family, relationships I know there is one place I can find rest. A friend of mine once described this place of peace to me as that "Secret Place". A place you know all your worries and burdens are placed at the foot of the cross, taken by Jesus with his open arms. Though this last semester has had its up and downs like a roller-coaster that "Secret Place" has created a straight path soothing to my soul. Jesus came and died so that He could be the mediator between God and man as described in 1 Timothy 2:5- "For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus" This is so that we may acquire the opportunity to have a relationship with the Creator of our universe. God wants us to draw nearer deepening a relationship so that we may know him more and more. This is how we may become more like our loving Father who cares for our every thought, by getting to know him spending time in his presence. I encourage you to find that "Secret Place" of yours that God has provided for you to come in and lay your heavy loads at his feet so he may give you rest. I leave you with this verse God welcomes us with...

"Come to me, all you who are tired and have heavy loads, and i will give you rest. Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives." Matthew 11:28-29

Clayton's Impact On My Life

Clayton was a friend of mine I met at Hume Lake Camp one summer through a close friend of mine. He was one of those people who being around made life so enjoyable. I barely met him and hanging out with him felt like we had been best friends for some time. Since meeting, It has now been three summers we have spent together hanging out at the incredible camp known as Hume Lake. "Love" was not just a word to this high school student, it was an action he had lived out in his life. Anyone who had been around him even for a minute knew this about him. His life of faith and testimony has opened my eyes to really sit back and meditate on areas of my life.

This is Clayton's Story that has greatly impacted my life:

Clayton was born on April 26, 1990. He liked to wrestle as a kid. When he was experiencing soreness in his bones he just thought it was from wrestling. He also got sick but thought it was just because of the flu season. His mother however thought wise to take him to a doctor. At age seven, Clayton was diagnosed with leukemia. If he hadn't gone to the doctor for another week, he would have been dead. Clayton underwent two and a half years of Chemo-Therapy and eventually his cancer went into remission. But that was not the end. One night, when Clayton was 12 years old, he woke up with excruciating back pain. His Leukemia had relapsed. He was given the option of another round of Chemo-Therapy or a bone marrow transplant. His siblings were tested to see if their bone marrow matched his despite the very low odds. Surprisingly, both his siblings matched him. The doctors pegged the odds of that at 1 in 1,000,000.
Clayton received a bone marrow transplant from his older brother Zack, and once again, his cancer went into remission. But that was not the end. His junior year of high school, Clayton woke up again with the same back pain and told his mother that he knew the Leukemia was back. They went to the doctors and for the third time, the doctors had to tell Clayton's mother that he had cancer. Luckily, Clayton's sister Samantha was a match for Clayton's bone marrow.
Clayton received a bone marrow transplant from his then 14 year old sister, and once again, his cancer went into remission. But that was not the end. For a while, Clayton was cured. However, five months and three days ago, the doctors had to tell Clayton's mother for the fourth time, that he had cancer. The doctor's said that they could try again to do Chemo-Therapy or another bone marrow transplant to cure the Leukemia. Clayton McDonald chose not to receive any treatment for his final diagnosis. Clayton is at peace with his life. He says this: "If you’re where God wants you to be, that’s the best place you can be. Because God is perfection, and perfection has no flaws." The doctors gave Clayton three months to live, plus or minus two or three. It has been five months and three days since then. Clayton knows that his time is coming soon and that is why he is living his life the way he is. Clayton told us that he is sorry for us. Clayton knows he is going to die soon. He says we don't have that liberty. We get distracted. We think we will be around forever. He knows his time is short. Because of this, he lives every day like it is his last, because it really might be. He has been going around to different churches and groups and sharing his story and the gospel of Jesus. A ton of people have given their lives to Jesus because of his story. Because of the story of an 18 year old kid.(This story was composed by Ryan Benander, student of Cal Poly San Louis Obispo)

His testimony is an amazing story I myself can dwell on for hours. It has really made me really look into how I am living my life and the impacts I may have on people with my actions. His love toward everyone was so incredible it was obvious God was living inside him. "Life is so short", Clayton often quoted which drastically opened my eyes to the thought of not knowing when my last day would be. He made me realize how much I need to be thankful for the everyday things such as my friends, family, and even every breath of air God provides me with. Only God knows if there will be a tomorrow, why not be focused on our surroundings and not what tomorrow might bring. Because of this 18 year old kid God brought into my life at Hume Lake Christian Camp my life has been forever impacted.