Each summer I have the honor of speaking at a camp for children who have one thing in common. No, it isn’t a political party or a shared ethnicity. It’s not a singular sex nor a similar economic background.

What galvanizes the children at Midwest Children’s Burn Camp is the shared experience of being burned.

One of the most difficult aspects of enduring a fire is the lifelong mark embossed on a survivor’s skin. These scars serve as a visible reminder not only of the agonizing struggle endured, but of how different we remain from others because of it. The scars can make us feel less than, set apart, totally isolated. Which is why an activity I witnessed at camp several years ago not only helped elevate the lives of participating campers but carries a lesson that may elevate your life today. Let me explain.