Last week I spent my mornings with young'uns. I was on staff for a summer camp for 3-6 year olds, and kept my guitar humming for most of three hours. We sang No Laughing in This House, Jesus and His Disciples, Boom Chicka Boom and A Man Had a Hundred Sheep enough times that even the littlest ones knew the words. Having counselors helped. My son was among them, and shepherded the sweet boys in his care from craft time to games, from singing to a magic show. 

Each day I would leave the Real World of news stories, and car problems, and delve into entertaining a tent full of children. They looked up at me as if I knew what I was doing, and believed I remembered the chords. One boy had eyes that were as brown as chocolate, only sweeter. I don't think he ever blinked. One little girl sat criss cross applesauce with her arm around a four year old she met on Monday, and they swayed like long time buddies. A curly haired girl plunked herself in her counselor's lap, and when I included her name in the song "I Like" her face opened up like fireworks.

Sometimes when I am making conversation with grown ups I refer to what happened in their lives last week, or what is coming up in the fall. But these small people had no interest in April or November. They were completely present in today. Being in their presence helped me to forget about car bills, and the mountain of laundry waiting like a dare in my bedroom. Reciting the words of the song about a lost sheep being found again, whittled away at my anxiety. For a few hours I believed that even if I lose my way, Someone knows where I am and will come looking.