Life's trials and tribulations

Until a recent telephone call from Gary Wyckoff, I must confess that I knew very little about the Fort Hill Christian Youth Camp.

Sure, like many Highland County public school students in the 1970s, I was familiar with what used to be the Fort Hill State Park. (The youth camp is adjacent to the park along Fort Hill Road, a few miles south of Carmel.)

Until last Thursday, it had been 20 years or more since I'd visited the area. Maybe that's because I spent a good many weeks of my youth surveying the hilly terrain and snake-invested waters along Fort Hill Road. (I loved the hills, but hated the snakes.)

Leaving Hillsboro around one o'clock in the afternoon, I reached the camp destination via Route 124 east to Marshall, Route 506 to Carmel, Route 753 to Route 41, and then across a mile or less along Fort Hill Road.

Camp board member Jack Jennings pulled up in a John Deere Gator utility vehicle to meet me. Mr. Wyckoff had suggested we get together. Now, I've never met Gary Wyckoff. But I have met his brother, David, who is a fine gentleman and who attends many Wednesday meetings of the Highland County Board of Commissioners.

Jack Jennings is also a fine gentleman. It turns out we have a number of mutual friends. Jack was a former traffic engineer for the city of Portsmouth. He worked with the administration of former Mayor Franklin Gerlach. I worked with the Gerlach administration in 1993-94 at the Portsmouth Daily Times. In fact, the Daily Times' former press foreman, Wendell Skinner, graduated from high school with Jack.

Jack told me to take the passenger seat in the Gator and proceeded to show me around the scenic campgrounds. He was especially fond of the numerous "low ropes" challenge course stations. These are far more difficult than they appear. In order to complete each station, teams of campers (ranging in age from 7 to 18) must work together. The course demands a combination of physical fitness, brainwork and trust in your fellow teammates.

Jack gave me a few pointers on how best to complete each station, but I am sworn to secrecy.

However, if I am invited back this summer (hint, hint), I will not leave without at least one or two rides through the Fort Hill woods on the camp's new 540-foot zip line. To his credit, Jack offered to set up a ride last week, but in addition to being chicken, I really didn't have time.

(Jack made me feel even worse by saying that his 5-year-old granddaughter has ridden the zip line several times. That hurt.)

Fort Hill Christian Youth Camp is located at 13500 Fort Hill Road, just off Route 41 near Carmel. If you've never been there, it's worth the 20-minute drive from Hillsboro. Without question, this is one of Highland County's most scenic areas. Don't forget to bring a camera.

For more information about the camp, visit http://www.forthillcamp.org or call (937) 588-2266.

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I had a conversation the other day about putting life's inevitable trials and tribulations in their proper perspective.

The question, simply put, was: How do you do this?

I cannot pretend to know how others do this. Nor is it my place to know or understand how others accomplish it. For me, the term "compartmentalize" is often helpful.

For instance, when a workplace situation arises whereby a reader or (heaven forbid!) an advertiser is less than pleased with our best effort, I tend to put that matter in its proper compartment.

The more serious matters require the more serious attention. If a family member has heart disease or cancer, that's obviously much more serious than a typographical error in a free news item. If a friend or family member loses a loved one, again, that's more serious than any work-related issue of the day.

Someone asked me the other day why I couldn't get along with a certain public official and what I had against said public official. My answer? That particular public official does not reach the minimum level required to trigger my personal radar. He's a non-issue. Really.

The real issues for me are similar to those at the Fort Hill Christian Youth Camp.

• The search for a moral and spiritual compass.

• Lifelong friendships and memories, as well as Christian values.

In more than 22 years of column writing, I've never "preached" to readers. A sinner like me has no business preaching to anyone.

But I will say this: Each day is a special gift. I have a first cousin on my mother's side who's a far better person than I could hope to be. What she and her husband lived with – and will always live with – regarding the loss of their young son is as heart-breaking as anything I've ever seen. It's also as inspirational as anything I've ever seen. They are heroes to their friends and family.

When our family and friends lose a loved one – especially when it's an unexpected loss – we realize just how precious God's gift of life truly is. Do yourself a favor and remember that.

Rory Ryan is publisher of The Highland County Press.