From Fear to Faith
Every summer, I go to a ranch in Cody, Wyoming called Elk Creek Ranch for about 4 weeks with no parents, no phones, and no Wi-Fi. This is actually one of my favorite places in the whole world. This ranch is like my second home, like Simeon’s Israel. Each year I go it seems like it can’t get any better, and I have been wrong for the past 2 years.
However, this past summer was different than the 1st. Every Sunday night we have a big soccer game on what used to be a barrel field. On this field, there were multiple ditches, and holes. While I was playing with everyone, I fell and heard my ankle pop. To make matters worse, I thought it was nothing and kept playing on it for another half an hour. Now may I remind you I was all alone. My parents were all the way down in Florida while I have a broken ankle in the middle of nowhere. Of course, I was scared. I went to the hospital the next day and it turns out I have a broken fibula. I was really really scared. I didn’t know whether I would have to go home or not or if I would not be able to do anything at my favorite place on Earth.
It was at this moment that I realized that I can either make the most of my stay here, or I can go home. This is when I truly felt God’s presence, just like Simeon did when he held baby Jesus for the first time in the temple. Just as Simeon saw God’s salvation in Jesus, I saw that I can make this the best summer yet at the ranch. And that’s exactly what I did. Even with a large boot, I hiked 36 miles in the span of 3 days and made friends that I will have for the rest of my life.
Essentially what I am saying is, when something bad happens to you, instead of freaking out, just think- God has a plan for me, just as he did for Simeon. He sent his own Son to forgive us for all our sins. Make the most of your life because it is too short to waste time thinking of all the bad things that could happen.
~Lyla J. '26
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However, this past summer was different than the 1st. Every Sunday night we have a big soccer game on what used to be a barrel field. On this field, there were multiple ditches, and holes. While I was playing with everyone, I fell and heard my ankle pop. To make matters worse, I thought it was nothing and kept playing on it for another half an hour. Now may I remind you I was all alone. My parents were all the way down in Florida while I have a broken ankle in the middle of nowhere. Of course, I was scared. I went to the hospital the next day and it turns out I have a broken fibula. I was really really scared. I didn’t know whether I would have to go home or not or if I would not be able to do anything at my favorite place on Earth.
It was at this moment that I realized that I can either make the most of my stay here, or I can go home. This is when I truly felt God’s presence, just like Simeon did when he held baby Jesus for the first time in the temple. Just as Simeon saw God’s salvation in Jesus, I saw that I can make this the best summer yet at the ranch. And that’s exactly what I did. Even with a large boot, I hiked 36 miles in the span of 3 days and made friends that I will have for the rest of my life.
Essentially what I am saying is, when something bad happens to you, instead of freaking out, just think- God has a plan for me, just as he did for Simeon. He sent his own Son to forgive us for all our sins. Make the most of your life because it is too short to waste time thinking of all the bad things that could happen.
~Lyla J. '26
Berkeley Preparatory School
Founded in 1960, Berkeley is an independent, Episcopal, college-preparatory day school located in Tampa, FL, for boys and girls in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12. Approximately 1,400 students gather here from the greater Tampa Bay area to form ONE Berkeley.