Night was gathering over the damp forest. Future camp counselors and other staff converged on a fire pit in the middle of the undergrowth as a rugged-looking man in a strawberry-blonde beard led them into place. Gathering and order achieved, the man went into action. "Once I met a man from the West Indies. He taught me this song -- and now I'm going to teach it to you. Not many people know it, so learn it well..." The trees of the forest closed gently in, making it easy to forget how close civilization was and reminding us all that "it's a jungle out there." The man set up a Caribbean beat and began to line out the song, the group echoing him after every line.

Walkin' through the jungle
Followin' the Leader
Walkin' through the jungle
Followin' the Master

Hey Mon!
Don't ya know?
Don't ya walk
Too slow...
Yo yo yo yo-yo-yo yo

Lots of pretty things here
Givin' us the pleasure
Got to know the difference
Which is really treasure

Lookin' straight ahead now
Move a little faster
Don't you need to worry
Followin' the Master

Profound lessons are learned from simple occasions. At the time, this song reminded me to faithfully follow God to college.
"Followin' the Master/... Don't ya walk/Too slow..."
Through decisions since then, it's been important to sift through the
"...pretty things here/Givin' us the pleasure/Got to know the difference/Which is really treasure."
And now, as my bedroom fills with boxes, my list of to-dos gets longer as the time to do them gets shorter, and I realize that I am taking my first job and will be responsible for 10+ children's education for a year (freaky!), I hang on the last words --
"Don't you need to worry/Followin' the Master."
Don't worry -- just walk out into that jungle, following His back and stepping in His boot-prints. I love my Master! And I am thrilled to be a part of the adventure --
"Followin' the Leader."

-- Song written and copyright held by Jay Musfeldt -- Photograph taken at Roman Nose Lakes, Idaho --