Seeing r/HoosFoos, and r/newundies posts about Trek reminded me of one of my Youth Conference experiences.

This was before Trek was all the rage. We just went to a church owned camp east of town. One event was a "hold to the rod" experience. They strung rope out through the woods and would send us off alone to follow the "iron rod". Everyone else claimed how spiritual it was, and grateful they could participate. My take was different. If felt dark, scary and just not enjoyable. They sent you off about 50-100 yds alone in the dark to find the start of the rope, only giving general direction. I struggled to find it. Once I did, it didn't get better. The rope went through thick brush, and down a ravine or two. I was scraped and scratched by the trees, and when I approached the ravine, I fell down the slope and badly cut up my hands and arms. I was so glad to get out of that hell and go back to the camp. I had to seek out a leader to get first aid, as there was no one making sure the kids going through were safe, or even made it through at all. No one believed that I got injured while following the rope. They assumed I must have been hurt somewhere else. When my YM leader finally decided to check on me, he asked, Well Brother (Blaq_sheep), how was the experience? After showing him my new wounds, he still asked "did you feel the spirit?" No, but I did feel the scrub oak! He then asked what I thought was the hardest part. I replied that the first stretch before I found the rope was the hardest, because I had no idea where I was supposed to go. I meant this in a non spiritual way. I was lost. No one told me how to find the rope. They just said, walk that direction. It's up there.

YM leader gave a talk the next sunday using my words and turned it into me saying that the hardest part was before I got to the rope because I had no path to follow. It kind of bothered me that my injuries were turned into faith promoting propaganda. I didn't know then, but I now see this as a crack in my shelf. I had the feeling at the time that since I didn't feel the spirit during this, I must not be humble, or spiritual enough. I felt guilty. Now of course I know that it was all bs for them to put kids through this and call it faith building.