First of all, let me say the obligatory ‘hello’! This is the first of many posts to this blog–its purpose just to dialogue and chronicle the many things God is teaching me.

What I’ve learned #1:

I have no idea what I’m doing in youth ministry.

That’s a multi-faceted statement. Number one–I really don’t know how I got here in the first place, which confirms to me that it’s a God-thing, because it most definitely was not my idea. Teenagers scared the heck out of me, and still do. My teenage years are not so far behind me, and I remember many painful moments. I was SO not cool. And even as an adult there’s an element of vulnerability and insecurity. Am I relate-able? Do they like me? Or am I a poser-dork, trying too hard?

Number two–now what?  I’m here. I’m in love with youth ministry, in love with the kids.
In their world, everything matters. Everything is dramatic. Everything is heard, felt, and absorbed to the inner core. And that’s why I love them. But the more and more time I spend with them, the more I realize that I have no idea what I’m doing. Their world is much different than mine ever was at their age. The things they deal with are mind-boggling. There is no amount of advice, experience or worldly wisdom I can offer. It does not satisfy the need; it does not heal the pain. They are searching for something so beyond that.

May I be humbled always to know that aside from His truth, I have nothing. But may I speak that truth boldly in love, and then get out of the way.

Though we are bathed in the light of the resurrection, our lives stand always in the shadow of the cross.