I know, I know… insert joke here

(1) Don’t you know how to lead youth yet?
(2) Shouldn’t you have done this a decade ago?
(3) Don’t you know you are too old?

Here’s the deal.  God has a great sense of humor. 

If you spend 10 minutes with me you will quickly get the sense that I am Busy.  And while God knows this, He also loves me dearly and knows me intimately.

Last August the youth group congregated at our house for a Wednesday night Swim and Study.  And as I was talking with Jen Fisk and asking her lots of questions I suddenly became aware of the fact that I was not just asking with polite interest, but I was actually being called into the group.  I flushed the idea immediately because I am Very Busy.  And.  I am afraid of teenagers.

But the following Sunday there I was again opening my mouth and telling Jen I wanted to come along side her with the ever growing younger age group (at that time Tiffany was ministering to the older girls and Jen to the younger).  During that same season, Gabby was also coming into the leadership side as she had graduated high school.

I don’t know who was most surprised by my words.  The Youth Pastor, D.L?  His wife Tiffany?  John?  The kids?  Me?  Yeah.  I’m sure we were all wondering, “Are you kidding?”

I went to the first meeting absolutely sure I was going to stand out as a sore thumb.  What did I know about being cool?  Ok.  I don’t know anything about being cool.  I figured I’d have to fake it.  I mean, I’ve pulled off FCWC the last three years, even though I have no idea what I’m doing…

Somehow I made it through the first week, and actually really looked forward to the next week.  Then the next week, I really looked forward to the following week. 

•The games time was hysterical (even that header I took on my face was memorable). 
•I sincerely enjoyed the teaching.  Even though the messages are meant “for the kids” I find myself learning something new every single week. 
•Our small group time was precious.  Gabby and I enjoyed having small group with the 6th and 7th graders; what they shared was truly special.  Answering their questions and encouraging them to share got less scary week after week.  (This year I have grades 6 & 7, Gabby has 8th, Jen has 9th and Tiffany has 10th-12th.)

Somewhere along the way – no idea when – I got the feeling that I wasn’t faking it.  I wasn’t exactly metamorphosed  into a cool person.  But I realized that just being a listener who loved Jesus and who wanted them to love Jesus was a great starting place.  Meanwhile we’ve had some opportunities to learn more about leadership along the way and I feel more and more like God blessed ME the most of anyone in the group.  D.L. equips us with talking points and with the help of the Holy Spirit it’s been rich and wonderful.

So – this photo was taken after a National Youth Leadership simulcast we got to attend.  My mind was blown away and I am so grateful for the opportunity to spend this kind of time with the kids and the other leaders.