“Lord, it’s good to be alive.” — Ridgely, circa 1997

This is the heartbeat of the lyrics to a song that played every Wednesday morning in the summer of 2002, my first summer on the leadership team at camp. “It’s good to be alive.” I still believe this, but so much has changed in 23 years… or maybe not. Maybe it’s mostly me that has changed — me, my perspective, and my naivety. I didn’t think as much back then about this question, but I ask myself this a lot as I get older: what is good? Bear with me. Let’s go for a good ride.

If we were asking, “Who is good?” the simple answer I grew up with is a classic one-word answer for the Sunday school teacher — “Jesus!” You could say that, and you’d be right! Jesus Himself said, “No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18). And the Psalms tell us that “no one is good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:12). Okay, so now we know who is good (Jesus) and who isn’t (people, including you and me, reader), but the answer to “what is good” is more complex.

When God created everything, He said it was good! He created people and said they were “very good!” (yes, this was before sin entered the world). These are tangible things that God called good, but let’s go a step further. What about some intangible things? “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). “The commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Romans 7:12). Jesus knows that fathers know how to give good gifts to their children (Matthew 7:11). We are to do good works, and there is so much more good mentioned in Scripture.

So far we’re all good, right? It’s not too hard to think of those things listed above and agree that they are good, and with these things in mind, it’s easy to say, “God is good. I will rejoice!” But the complexity comes in when we experience — and hopefully learn and grow through — suffering. Is God still good then? And I’ll say the obvious… suffering is hard.

I don’t want to be a downer here, but as you get to know me, you’ll start to understand that I am authentic. It’s actually a core value in my family. As I reflect on 2025 and consider what is in store for 2026, I cannot escape some really difficult things. A friend of mine lost his life in an accident and left a wife and four kids without a husband and father. Two couples close to us have gone through divorce. In close proximity to our community, we have seen cancer diagnoses, miscarriages, layoffs, financially crippling medical bills, surprise relocations, mid-life crises and depression, wayward children, and tragic loss of life. Where is the goodness in all of this???

Please understand that most of me would much rather be writing this blog post about a really spectacular plan to stick to your spiritual disciplines this year, to really see sunshine and rainbows in God’s abundant material provision, to have all of our prayers answered in really happy ways. But I am feeling compelled to instead acknowledge that Jesus wept — and we will too. What will we do when our family, close friends, or our own selves come on hard times? Who will we trust? As for me, I cling to the hope that is ours for the taking in Scripture. Check this out:

• “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33
• “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” — Romans 8:28
• “Count it all joy… when you meet trials of various kinds.” — James 1:2
• “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame.” — Romans 5:3–5
• “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” — Psalm 30:5

Some who are reading these very words are in the depth of suffering and confusion. 2025 was tough, and 2026 might be tougher. I want you to know that (1) you are loved more than you can possibly imagine — last year, this year, the next, and for eternity after — and also (2) the suffering will not last forever. For those who trust in the saving work of Christ’s death on the cross and His power over death in His resurrection, this temporary life will close someday, and we will be resurrected, glorified, and united with Him in Heaven, and see Him as He is.

I am also praying for you tonight as I write, that you may have relief from your burden and be able to honestly and authentically say, “Not my will, but God’s will be done” (Luke 22:42). If you ever need a hug in 2026 — to mourn the hard or to celebrate the good — you can find me at T Bar M. Remember, when our life is hidden with Christ, even when it’s complicated, this is true: it’s good to be alive — abundantly alive.

- Joe Dalton, Senior Director of Camps