Lord,

When life is full of uncertainty,
When the word on the street is doom,
When sickness and death are the prediction of the day,
Let me be courageous.

When I’m warned to hunker down,
When pandemic is declared,
When goods are rationed,
Let me be generous.

When I’m told to be concerned,
When the threat is real,
When others panic,
Let me build others up.

Not fear
Not hoarding
Not about me
rather
Rest [in you O Lord]
Generosity
Generativity.

Amen

My wife and I are just coming off spending MLK weekend with 100 teenagers at an outdoor camp in rural Richland County Ohio.  The area is surrounded by state park forests and private farm land.  The youth pastor of our church asked us to help out with the youth group’s annual  winter event known as “Snow Retreat”. Jane and I have always loved working with teenagers. I guess it makes us feel young. As the weekend wore on I started to notice a few realities about the teens there  that run may contrary to what we often think about today’s youth.

1. Despite video games, virtual reality  and social media, kids still love to play real, authentic, live games  and have crazy fun doing so. All weekend long there were rousing games going on. Some were new generation games like hantis , gaga ball, and 9 square in the air;  some were old generation games like basketball and dodgeball; some were table sports like pool, air-hockey, and ping-pong; some were  table games like, euchre or Uno. The kids didn’t seem to miss their cell phones or complain they couldn’t get a signal. They were having to too much fun to realize it.
2. Kids love being outside. I led a  hike up to a local summit. Not only did several kids sign up to go on the hike but they loved it. They seemed to be invigorated by the long, cold hike and were taking pictures at the top so they could  show their friends their accomplishment. Some of the younger kids had a blast rolling down the very tall peak we were on. They were also totally intrigued by the natural spring that provided a marvelous flow of clean water at the near the bottom of the peak.
3. When given a safe space to do so, kids will share their story. There were three times we met in small groups with the teenagers  this weekend. The theme for the weekend was “Being Good Soil”. The speaker challenged to youth to consider what barriers they have that prevent them from being all that God has created them to be. In the small groups the youth supported each other as they talked about their lives and the struggles they have. It was such a privilege to simply be a listening ear to support them as they shared.
4. Kids want to find a deeper meaning to their life.  Dan Perkins (2007)* identifies four questions that teenagers are wrestling through. Teens are asking  Who am I?   Am I normal? Am I competent? Am I lovable and loving? The many conversations I had the students this weekend reflected this quest. Teenagers want to live lives that matter and that make a difference in the world.
5. Teens are not afraid of hard work. Throughout the weekend the teens at camp cleaned tables and moved equipment. On the last day they cleaned bathrooms, cleaned cabins, loaded trailers with heavy equipment, swept floors, and took out garbage. They worked together, and  had a good time doing it.
6. Don’t judge a book by its cover.  There are always kids who stay in the margins. Who have trouble fitting in and then take on the “outsider” role. I had the chance to speak with a young man who fits this category. I asked questions. Listened to his story. Found out a lot about him. I found out this young “outsider” is really a sensitive, kind young man who has tremendous strengths. Several of us adults came up with some ways to us his strengths help him feel part of the group.
7. God is at work. What often seems like problems are  really  God rearranging  the plan we came up with to replace it with his perfect plan. An example is that the main speaker for the weekend got sick and could not come. Our youth pastor stepped right in. He delivered the message that God had for the teens there this weekend.
8. God is in pursuit.  Over and over this weekend I heard “God is really trying to tell me….” or “God is saying ….to me.” Though it may seem irrational to some, I witnessed a loving, comforting, affirming God reach out and speak to the young people he has so fearfully and wonderfully made.

• Perkins, D. F.  (1997, 2007). Adolescence: The Four Questions. University of Florida, IFAS Extension. FCS 2117.   (http://moodle.ecampusalberta.ca/groups/file.php/13/the_four_questions.pdf)

This past week I saw glimpses of God’s Kingdom. What am I talking about you may ask? First of all it  had absolutely nothing to do with Republicans or Democrats. Nothing to do with commerce, tax plans, borders, boundaries, or talent acquisition. The glimpses I saw had to do with quiet, simple acts of kindness and generosity. Some of them happened in places no one was looking. Let me share four examples with you. Example one. Early this week we experienced a major clog in our kitchen double sink drain/disposal. It was my fault. I’d tried to flush down a huge pile of rice noodles. They got hung up in some grease on way down the drain. I plunged, took the under-the-sink PVC apart, plunged again, all to no avail. I called a locally renown appliance repairman. He happens to go to my church. I explained the dilemma to his wife who relayed the information to him. Based on his experience he thought it was a plumbing issue rather than the disposal malfunctioning. He told me to use two plungers. I only had one. He said “I’ll be right over.” He came over and in 10 minutes using boiling water, dish detergent, and bleach had it open. When I went to pay him he replied, “No charge. We love you guys.” Example two. I got an out-of-character text from a friend. He asked to meet me for lunch. I was a little nervous because his request implied something was going on and I wasn’t sure what it was. When we met he shared he had recently been struggling with panic attacks. In the middle of Wendy’s he bore his soul. He talked about his fears and stressors. I was able to encourage him and give him some resources to help cope. I’ll be following up regularly. Example three. For three hours  twice a month on Saturdays, fifteen or so people volunteer to hang out with children are physically handicapped so their parents can have time to recharge. These adults, all who could be doing other things, choose to  walk laps, paint pumpkins, play with sand, eat pizza, and whatever else it takes to help the kids have a great time. Parents return recharged and the children have a  great night with new friends. Example four. This week two Ashlanders relayed to me the account of how, for the past two years, they had  befriended a troubled individual in our town who was marginalized and distanced by others. These two Ashlanders determined, based on the leading of the Creator, to love this person rather than try to change them. They relayed that by doing this, even when it was difficult, they saw the individual slowly soften and begin to be more reflective and loving of others.

There you have it. Four short instances in the span of seven days that are reminders that in spite of all that looks dark out there, God is regularly using everyday people to shine his light. My advice, be on the lookout and choose to participate.

Despite the tempestuous ramblings, mudslinging, and doomsday forecasting, irregardless of which U.S. candidate wins the presidency, the Church is still the Church. It is alive in this world and at work. It works inside the world  like yeast or like salt. It is not political. It is not government. It is a community of disciples.  It is the love manifested first in Christ,  reaching out, loving others, worshiping God and serving. Bringing his kingdom to earth, one person, one neighborhood, one village at a time. Praise God.

Tomorrow is Easter. I don’t have a vocabulary adequate enough to describe what the resurrection of Jesus meant for the universe. If you have the time,  listen to the last 10 minutes or so so if this powerful sermon. You’ll get a glimpse of who King Jesus is. If you have 66 minutes to hear the full sermon you’ll hear some transforming truth about prayer, your life, and The King.

Happy Easter. God bless.

Jerry