Hey there friends...I'm just going to tell you about my day...
I woke up this morning as usual at a quarter to 6 and headed to work. While I drive, I usually like to think about random things. (Assuming it's a route I know and the kids are under control- my mornings are relatively calm.) Often I will come up with song ideas and that is fun. A lot of times I will reflect on life, particularly the past, especially now since I drive to my high school and middle school, and just remembering my school days on the bus, driving around the areas I grew up. I realize I tend to be more gracious to kids who are running to catch the bus because I was always one to miss it! :) I realize that while my focus is on the kids and getting them to school, their focus is not on me at all, they don't tend to even think of me as a real person, or for some, not one that is worth any respect. I never really cared so much about my bus driver! Did you? Bus drivers are people too! :) Anyway...today for some strange reason, I was thinking about the end of my senior year. Now, I was never the most popular kid, nor did I care a whole lot. I was friendly to many people. I think I was pretty awkward in the middle school years (I guess we all are, eh?) and once in high school I was more confident in myself, I knew who I was and I found my identity in Christ and wanted to proclaim that with my actions. As I grew older, I was more and more confident and mature in that as well as fitting in and finding the right friends at school. By the time I graduated I befriended many great Christian friends and still had the good kid image that stood out as I befriended others. Despite my trials and bad days, my joy was visible. Senior year I had a good group of well-known Christian friends that I hung out with not all the time, but quite a bit. They are some people who I truly treasure and admire....I was somewhat of a leader on campus...particularly in how I took over leadership of our praise and worship time one morning a week. People knew I was involved in church, camp, etc...that my faith mattered to me. Well, I was actually somewhat surprised to get the news in the spring that I was nominated in the Senior Polls. "What? Since when, me? I'm not popular. Do that many people even know me? Or anything about me? Enough to be nominated for the Senior Polls? No way." Well, along with two of my great girl friends and three guys (I don't remember!), I was considered (as I was first informed- I don't remember the wording) the most spiritual or something...one who lived out my faith, shared it...I was known for being a Christian, basically....by my whole (well...) class!!! (of 464!) Pretty cool. I was very excited. It meant I got to be published in the special Senior edition of the final school newspaper. I was never published in the school newspaper (well, once for Volleyball- my coach nominated me as Athlete of the Week in 10th grade!!...coach's pet, yup!) but in this issue, I was quoted in another article, in the Senior Poll quiz- with photo! and I had my senior quote (which included "don't speed" and Josh. 1:9). I remember taking the photo of us three girls- we wore choir robes and put halos over our heads to pretend we were angels! The format of the polls was like in YM..."You are walking down the hall and you are beat over the head with a Bible. Who's the holy roller?" So, not the most encouraging way to put it...anyway, I wasn't chosen, my friend Tammy was. And the guy that was chosen was actually an outspoken Atheist. So, I don't know about the irony there. But I was just encouraged to know that my class still can remember me as one who lived out her faith in a public school. They noticed me. They knew I was different. So my challenge to you- particularly if you are in a public school, especially in high school, even middle school...(well, I don't think anyone younger reads this) don't be ashamed to make a difference in your school, "let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven", "will you be the one to take His light into a darkened world?"
Youth group was tonight. Another night of us left-behind leaders flying by the seat of our pants! It was great! Although at the same time, I am looking forward to getting some more structure going...kinda lookin forward to the opportunity to do that, Lord willing. I led them in a game of "Shuffle Your Buns". That was a new one, and a good time. Since the other leaders and I don't actually know the kids too well, we made up a survey for them to fill out so we can know more about them. Looking forward to reading those, what matters to them, where they are at in their faith, their shoe size....." I really want to be able to reach out to these kids and meet them at their needs, but it's hard at this point, still not really knowing them. It will take some time for us to adjust and grow. A couple of them have expressed some interest in conferences and other activities, so I am excited and looking into those and getting involved with that. Troy talked about the story of Zaccheus and we went over some questions...this group can be a major struggle when it comes to lesson time. They can be very disrepectful and it's hard to know if things are sinking in at all and to get them to participate and listen. A few of them were sharing some good answers though. One of the questions was to share someone in your life when you were younger that made you feel special, that you looked up to, such as in the way that Jesus went to the tree to specifically tell Zaccheus that He wanted to come to his house. This was definitely one time in youth group that I felt like something was happening. I decided to speak up that I want to hear this answer from everyone in the room. The kids listened as we all shared and it was pretty neat just to hear where kids have come from and who has impacted their lives....from their mothers to their lunchlady! :) Then Chaz called my cell phone while we were praying...and we went to DQ and that's my night!
So, good night, y'all!
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