Do Hard Things

Today I’m doing something I’ve never done before: taking an elderly lady on an over night trip to Thunder Bay for an eye appointment.  Normally my mom would do this but it was short notice and she was heading the other way for a once in a lifetime trip with her sisters.  I’ve never cared for an older person.  I’ve never spent more than a few moments with an older person besides my grandparents, who are still independent.  And I’ve never been responsible for the safety and care of an older person along with wheelchair and walker.  This is all very new. 

A couple weeks ago someone in our College & Career group said that she would freak out to hang out with teens but she loves spending time with older people, she just has a grand old time.  I’m thankful that God gives us different passions so that as many members of a body we can care for all ages. 

But sometimes He does have special missions for us.  I doubt that this trip will lead to a drastic change from youth ministry to long term care ministry but I’m sure that this could be and will be a learning experience for me to appreciate the older generations more, possibly teach me some patience, and I have no idea what else! 

So it’s a little scary (What if she has a stroke or heart attack?  Or I do something stupid like forgetting to put the brakes on her wheelchair and she falls and breaks her hip?) and interesting (What are we going to talk about for 12ish hours of traveling?) but it is a God ordained opportunity so here goes doing hard things and learning in the process!

Putting Binders on Shelves

Today my job has been closing off any loose ends from school year ministry.  My youth binder is set aside to hand over to Stacey.  (That feels good!)  My FYG binder is on the shelf with notes in my day planner for when to start reminding people of our meeting on September 3 so don’t have to touch that until middle of August. 

My GIFT binder can sit for a couple weeks although that one never completely comes to a rest.  The task ahead there is to organize teams for the new year and decide what to study now that we’ll be finishing Living the Cross Centered Life. 

And pulling out the Camp binder into a more prominent place.  Big prayer request there: Lord willing I’ll be the evening chapel speaker for junior camp.  I have an idea of the concepts I want the kids to walk away with but in thinking of how to communicate that…I’m so in over my head!

Work on the backdrop is scheduled to begin on Friday.  T-shirts are ordered.  Music is getting organized today.  Yep, camp is in the air!

Special note on that: June 26 has been declared a day of prayer and fasting for Christian camps in Canada.  We’re going to have a special prayer gathering on that evening at 7:00 at the Calvary Baptist Church in Emo.  Would love to see you there, or, if you are far away, to have you praying with us in spirit!

Memories

Six years of a standing commitment on Thursday nights have now come to an end.  Emo Youth.  The first thing I became committed to after coming back from Bible school in 2004.  Thinking back to those earlier years I see faces of different teens that were such a big part of my world.  Some of them are now married.  Some are parents.  Some of them are serving as pastors.  Some I have no idea where they are or what they are doing.  Some are are living lives apart from God.

Some years numbers were high.  Some years numbers were low.  Some nights we had rousing theological discussions, especially when we went through Romans.  Some nights it’s been discouraging and wondering if there would ever be change or spiritual passion.  I’ve lead alone.  I’ve been an assistant. 

I remember some games we played.  Leading a group of blindfolded people carrying water in a tarp all over a yard, over and around obstacles.  Leading a group of blindfolded people to collect wood, newspaper, matches and marshmallows and roasting the perfect marshmallow.  Spray painting and demolishing Bernice: The Silver Bullet (my car).  Ultimate Frisbee.  Life-size Dutch Blitz.  Good times.

Camping trips.  Girls Nights.  Quest.  The gospel of John.  Judges.  Singing from the youth books.  Studying spiritual gifts.  Food.

A lot of good memories.  A lot of lives intersected.  For brief moments.  And time marches on.  And teens become adults. 

Lord, You placed me there for a season.  What has happened and what has been said is done.  Take it all and use it for Your glory.  Use what I have done and said to work in Your people.  Because You are good and because You have chosen to use me.  Not because of me but because of You.  And as Emo Youth passes into the hands of others who love You use them.  Use their words, their actions to continue to point teens to You, to stir a passion within them for You and to spread the awareness of You.  Because of Jesus.  So be it.