last night ross and i sat on metal bleachers – a black plastic trashbag blocking the water but not the cold - huddled under an umbrella (ok, so ross wasn’t actually under the umbrella) for two hours in the pouring rain while we watched one of our youthlings play a lacrosse game in which they were destroyed by the opposing team. we sat with two other youthlings (which is why ross didn’t get a spot under the umbrella, what a gentleman) – another trashbag acting as a “blanket” across our legs.
we looked ridiculous.
we were freezing.
we had a fantastic time. although i wasn’t the one not covered by the umbrella, so i’ll just speak for myself.
three years ago i don’t think i would have ever predicted that moment. sacrificing a relaxing night at home (where it was dry and warm!) to watch a highschooler play a game in the pouring rain. and wanting to be there. i remember my younglife friends in college spending what i thought was an inordinate amount of time with their highschoolers and wondering where they got the motivation. but now (ironically) that i’m older, i totally get it.
the price of ministry (being wet and cold for two hours) is hardly even comparable to the reward of ministry (talking/giggling with our kids, listening to what’s going on in their lives, cheering on the team despite the abysmal score, them knowing that we care enough to support them by being there). what a testament to God’s work in our lives: me, the girl who thought highschool ministry would put a damper on her social life (um, hello? these kids kind of ARE my social life) and ross, the introvert who used to be morbidly intimidated by groups of 5 or more (especially if they happened to be extroverts. aaaggh!) and now we have kids at our house until all hours on work nights, cooking dinner, playing video games, and spontaneously wrestling in my kitchen. who are we!?
crazy youth leaders, duh.
we may not be youth leaders to a group of 40, but we’re being given an incredible chance to bond with the small group we have and spend some quality, kingdom oriented time with them. i can’t speak for how each of them will look back on this time, but i know that when I look back on my memories of past youth leaders, they’re such strong, positive, priceless memories in my life. and now that God has put it on my heart to take that full circle, and to be the hands and feet of Christ to these kids – well to me that’s not a sacrifice at all.
