Well, here we are as the eve of the new school year draws to a close, mired in turmoil. I don’t mean to overstate things, but this blog’s primary purpose is to be a journal of what happens in this ministry good and bad. We are a young group, consisting mostly of Jr. High students with a few Sr. High kids. We are also dealing with a myriad of issues from volatile family situations, anger issues, depression, and drug abuse. Tonight was a challenging night on a couple of levels. For anyone reading this that has done any form of ministry you already know that we ministers often wear many hats. Counselor, confidant, benefactor, mentor, and the list goes on. Thank God for the team He has sent to work by my side in this thing. Tonight as we arrived on campus for mealtime we had a melee in the kitchen over who was and wasn’t supposed to be there. We are a melting pot of cultures and sometimes we get the oil and water effect. While trying to put out the fires of arguing and name calling, I’m also putting together a box of food for one of our students and another group of people who called for some help with food. Oh, and did I mention the boy with girlfriend/self-esteem problems sulking in the back corner? Yeah, somehow I’m talking to him too. Meanwhile I have a brand new youth praise band rehearsing for their maiden performance in the sanctuary, and a half prepared meal in the kitchen. (See bickering students mentioned earlier.)
Deep breath… Twenty teenagers is a handful on a perfect night, and at this point I’m so busy with gathering food, I can barely keep tabs on who’s where, and what’s going on. We have a couple of students back from a hiatus due to being made to feel less than… We have some underlying tensions between two warring factions that just can’t seem to see eye to eye. If it seems I’m complaining it’s because I want to take a good snapshot of today. When I look back on this blog a year from now, I want it to be as fresh and real for me then, as it is right now.
I’ve defined the problem, now what’s the solution? It’s the reason we are here to begin with. His glory… You see even amidst all of the chaos and confusion I have peace. How? I believe that sometimes God allows us to see a glimpse of what He sees, even if for only a fleeting moment. Tonight was one of those rare occasions when Vini wasn’t wrestling with the Almighty for control of things, and it was a blessing. Through all of the stuff that youth ministry takes me through, I can still see God at work! Where? In the short conversation with the heartsick boy, in the young girl who keeps her composure under fire from some kids who attacked her with words and hateful attitudes, in the kids who took “TSAL Movie Invites” to give out at school… These kids are being transformed and are evangelizing, and they don’t even know it! In AA we have a statement that closes the 12th Tradition which states:
“This is the foundation upon which all of our traditions are built, ever reminding us to place principals before personalities.”
What does this mean to me? It means that in spite of all of our junk, if we strive to do the next right thing, we are in God’s will. It really is that simple. Suit up, show up, and let God do all the heavy lifting… Until next time, Blessings!
-Vini
[...] week of a three part series dealing with conflict. As I blogged about earlier on Aug. 19th “Principles before Personalities,” we have issues… Lots of em’. It has been an up and down ride with successes and [...]