T-I-M-E

As I think back to last weekend, I still marvel at how something seemingly ordinary can make a difference.

Two weeks ago at youth group (well, close to two), Jordan made a reference to a movie relevant to our discussion in the small group with the high school guys.  To our great surprise, NO ONE had seen it.  So that went out the window and once again, we're left trying to explain it and well... it's only so effective when you haven't seen it.  Probably not that effective, really.

Youth group ended and Jordan, Leo and I started brainstorming on doing a movie night sometime with the guys.  The small group was as much the spark as anything, plus this awesome space that I'm currently sitting in writing right now.  We pitched the idea to a couple of the guys, and they seemed geeked at the idea of hanging out, watching a movie and stuff.

Two days later, I'm sitting with a couple of our kids at a hockey game.  One of them asked me when we're holding this movie night and that he was looking forward to it.  Admittedly, having the guys over for a movie night sounded like a lot of fun to ME, but I never know for certain how much fun something will sound to everyone else, so I always have to guess at least a little bit.  So when I got home, I told Jordan we needed to get moving on said plans.

Fast forward again; Jordan's and my house suddenly goes from relatively quiet to three goofy high school guys roaring in the front door with Leo.  And it was great.  I was reminded how ministry to anyone, but especially younger people has many facets to it.

Sure, teaching is vital.  We have to know our stuff as the teachers and leaders.
We have to know how to present this stuff in an effective and meaningful way to our audiences.
And we have to be an example that, although not perfect and still growing ourselves, is someone that our kids would want to be like (and that their parents would also want them to be like as well!).

But after inviting a few of my kids over for a movie night and enough pizza with dead animal bits on it to build a new animal, I realized that there's another piece of the pie that I VERY often missed out when I myself was in high school and would have killed for with my youth leaders and the other guys in youth group.

Time.
Just doing something fun OUTSIDE church and youth group.
No teaching planned.
That matters too.  Jesus spent time with people He cared about and I'm realizing that I should, too.

It was less than 12 hours later when I was asked when we're doing it again.  :-)  The others asked at youth group when we're doing it again, too.

And I'd be glad to.  In fact, I'm already a little bummed that I won't be around for summertime to do it when they all have more time on their hands.

I am grateful.

The weekend at camp wasn't the best I've spent, which still is a little shocking.  I've had bad days at camp but a bumpy weekend is pretty rare for me (though the men's retreat group was a lot of fun with climbing).  It didn't help to leave with a slice to my hand from a razor-sharp can lid right before I had to drive home and having to worry about it bleeding again on the drive home in the dark, either.

Thankfully, Sunday things seemed to pick up.  Our music crew was a little (read: QUITE) anxious about the offertory with Corey and Hadley after things didn't go so hot during our sound check.  I heard things that, musically, displeased me and up to that point, hadn't been happening.  And furthermore, I didn't know why, either.

As it happened, I need not have worried.  The service music went well, the sound levels came together pretty well, and Kenny, Becky, and I were able to play for Corey & Hadley just fine.  More importantly, they were able to sing well and truly minister to not only the congregation but also to their Maker as well.  I've never seen a standing ovation for a church offertory, but it was a little exciting to witness that.  I was honored to be a part of that.

Gretel & Hansel Hansel & Gretel! What a hilariously witty, yet whimsically child-like drama!  Anesa hit a homerun with her dramatic retelling and the casting.  I was dying in my seat laughing watching Kenny lisp through that retainer and Kayela yelling at him the entire time.

And finally, youth group.  Sometimes, I freely admit I have no desire whatsoever to come and Sunday night was one of those nights.  I was worn out from working, I would have liked to kick back, and going all day nonstop on Sunday didn't interest me.  But I went anyway, in part because I said I'd be there, Pastor Jim was teaching, and I knew I needed to be there.

And it was most definitely worth it.  I haven't co-led a small group in a while, but last night I had the high school guys with Jordan and Leo, and discussing what he taught on King Solomon about what really matters in life.  Not only that, when it led to a discussion on some more difficult subject matter involving your life and legacy and how you proceed through this life, it was most encouraging that the guys were willing to step up to the challenge of not simply ignoring a "tough passage" (example: how do you handle tattoos?) when we asked them what to do with it through the lens of the Bible as a whole.

The more I think about it, the more I think working with youth group teaches and encourages me as much as I teach my kids.

I Think We're Even Now

A weekend away from home together for the first time in forever (NO ONE working!).  The Grand Rapids Symphony.  The Return of the King.  And did I mention none of us working?!  How often does that happen anymore? (Answer: it NEVER does.)

Yes, we had it set up pretty much perfectly.  Much to my surprise, my mother had come to enjoy The Lord of the Rings up to that point and was looking forward to seeing the last part on the giant screen in the DeVos Performance Hall with all the musicians performing everything live.

It was a ton of fun.  We met up with a friend (Will) and even brought him home with us.  I saw Sean for like, two seconds.  Mom and Jordan saw him for probably ten times longer.  But the best surprise was seeing some friends that I don't remember seeing for a couple of years - Pastor Leslie & Elissa Lew.  And having seen them... I realized then how much I've missed my pastor, his wife, and fellow friends in music.  And I still miss making awesome music.  Someday I'll do what I once did when the right opportunity strikes.

But what has bothered me so much is what happened while we were talking to our long-missed friends.  A colleague from my days at Hope that I hadn't seen since the day s/he graduated spotted me in the performance hall.  S/he looked exactly the same and apparently I hadn't changed much in looks either.

"Tyler...?"
"Yes?"
"Do you remember me?"
"Yeah, of course I do. -Name-" (not really important, nor helpful; this person IS definitely real but shall remain unnamed)
"I thought I recognized you;  I just wanted to say hi."
"Hey."

And that was it.  My colleague walked through the heavy doors, and... the awkwardness was palpable.  My mother said, "Wow.  That's not like you.  You weren't rude, but that was icy."  My pastor asked what that was about, and I could have sunk into a hole.  Jordan replied with, "Does the term 'nemesis' help put things into perspective?"  We then moved on with the conversation and that was that.

But I couldn't have been more disappointed with myself.  That ISN'T like me.  I'm usually giddy to see people I remember from years ago, be it old friends from high school, people I worked with at camp, friends from Hope, etc.  And I did that.  True story.

Here I am, claiming to be a Christian.  Trying to live how I should, teaching kids at camp and at youth group how to live life and be an example to them myself... and I definitely failed.  Monstrously.

And maybe I was justified to do that in some respects.  As I looked back, nothing I did for this person was ever good enough. All I heard in response was complaints and how "This isn't a personal attack, but... (fill in the blank)" etc.  Nothing was simple.  I never had help or support.  Whining all the time. (personal pet peeve).  An unwarranted sense of self-importance and self-involvement.  Needless to say, I grew to loathe this person and I had no respect (on personal or professional level) for him/her because I felt s/he had forfeited it.  Even standing near him/her in rehearsals was challenging at times.

Whether I was justified in this view or not, it happened.  It's not the most pleasant part of my collegiate career to remember, but one of the rare instances where I flat-out didn't get along with someone, which still evidently bothers me.  I figured I wouldn't see him/her much, if at all after we were both graduated, much to my relief at the time.  Like many things... all this largely faded into the dusty part of my memory, not really resolved, remembered or forgotten.  Just there.

And apparently when the time came to rise to the challenge, under the category of the great question of, "Can or would you love someone that's difficult to love?" or maybe more specifically, "This person wronged you (or at least you THINK and FEEL s/he did) some time ago, and you HAVE to talk to him/her now.  What will you do?"

I failed.

I remember writing in my old blog (my now-defunct Xanga, HA!) about a particular service of The Gathering where Trygve taught on forgiveness and looking really hard at us about what we truly need to let go and where there is still burning anger and resentment.  I think I need to revisit that particular truth because although I may have grasped that truth at least at the time, my grip may be slipping.

I haven't forgiven.  At least not completely.  And when I had a chance to be the kind of man that I should have been, I wasn't.  And I hope I can make things right someday with this person, as hard as that may be.  Because in the meantime...

I think we're even now.  And that's never how it's supposed to be.

I'm a terrible blogger, but here's a shot (again, and does that ever sound familiar) at trying to go at it with some sense of consistency.  I miss writing like I did all the time.

Closing the chapter on selecting a senior pastor for church feels good, even if church is still bleeding for it.  I will admit, there are still things that I am hardly pleased with, though on the whole I think we have a fine pastor on his way with his family.  I look forward to meeting him for real, working with him and learning from him.

Onward to prepping to teaching youth group.  This has been harder than I thought, but the idea of teaching on when you wonder WHERE God is sometimes, and the idea of God feeling distant (and the struggles through that) is something that was and is still relevant to me.  I hope it will meet the kids for youth group well, too.