One teen even helped serve pb&j to some of the mom's who couldn't get up to make them for their kids. These kids did a great job and served everyone within ten minutes. This was great and the adults leading were very happy and telling us how amazing it went. We then had the opportunity to eat in a separate room where it felt like we were having the Last Supper together. We huddled around the table sharing our thoughts and concerns with one another. We shared life stories and made fun of each other as only teens can do. It was a very great moment for me as the teens made me feel like I had been part of their group for years. When actually I have only been their Youth Director since the beginning of the month. This moment touched me.
I wasn't prepared for the next encounter. I was walking around the campus after the event and one of the most amazing people came up to me and said to me how amazed she was at how I had gotten the teens to serve. She told me that she had not seen the teens serve so willingly before. I was taken aback. From my perspective the teens didn't even balk at volunteering when I asked them. They were actually very excited to be involved. Of course having our own place to eat instead of in the main dining room probably helped the situation but they really didn't hesitate to help out. But this adult was very sincere in stating that she felt my leadership had played an important part in their helping out. I was not prepared to hear those words. I thanked her for the encouraging words and thanked her for our opportunity to help out. I also told her it really wasn't me that did anything. She of course wouldn't hear of it and stood by her guns.
This experience showed me the power of simple acts of kindness and selflessness. Those teens didn't do anything spectacular, but to that adult they had. The little things mean so much and I know I have to remember that in ministry. It's the helping out the church Administrative Assistant fold bulletins on Fridays. To her those people are heroes. They let her have more time doing other things that are a bigger priority to her. It's coming by the office and leaving cookies so the Pastor and staff can gain a few pounds around the waist eating them. It's saying good morning to everyone when you walk by them in the morning on Sundays. Especially when the new Youth Director was visiting for the first time and you said it when he hadn't even stepped out of his car. These simple little things are amazing heroic stories of amazing love.
To someone you are doing an amazing job of leadership. To someone you are showing great mercy and grace. To someone you are showing loving kindness that they needed to get through the day. Reciprocity is a word I just learned about in my Ethics class. This word is a core value of the Christian Worldview. With out it we are nothing more than a group of people who belong to a country club. With it we are a culture setting movement bent on a revolution. The power of reciprocity is beyond any weapon of mass destruction. It can change civilizations in moments. Loving your neighbor as yourself is the key to loving God. With out either one the other can't truly survive.
Sunday that adult showed me the power of loving your neighbor through a simple act of kindness. I hadn't done any super leadership trick to get those kids serving, I only asked them. They are the ones that deserve all the credit, they accepted the challenge and gave their all for a few moments.
In a few weeks we will depart for Northern California to the Yurok Indian nation to help build houses and repair buildings. This will be a big act of kindness and I know that these teens will show amazing leadership and love to those that need it most.
Please keep us in prayer as we continue growing our group and as I journey deeper into the love of Jesus and God with these teens.
