08th0602rl2 - Stepping Out Of The Boat

"If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the
boat," my pastor proclaims, making reference to John Ortberg's book we just
finished reading in small group. He's challenging each one of us to get
involved in hands on ministry, dive in, be vulnerable, and serve our God. But I like the boat! It's comfortable, nice and cozy. My friends are here, and with the exception
of a few waves now and then it's smooth sailing. Luckily I couldn't keep that facade for long;
I knew I had to dive in.

My youth director had previously asked me if I wanted to
take over the middle school youth group for her. Wait... Youth?
Me? Me and Youth? What? Bad idea.
At least I thought so. I didn't
know these kids. They're from the city, I'm from suburbia. They like hip-hop and rap, I played with a
symphony orchestra. We had nothing in common. But God is faithful and is put me where he
wanted me. Not as the leader of the
middle school youth, but rather the leader of a new youth drama team.

Interacting with these kids has changed my life. They live such polar opposite lives than what
I experienced growing up. Some live in
fear of pain and suffering that I always heard about on T.V. but never really
acknowledged as really happening. Some
come to youth group mainly because it's one place they won't be mocked,
bullied, beat-up, or abused. Hearing
their stories broke my heart.

The veil I was unknowingly hiding behind was being
removed. I see life so differently now,
and I also see hope for these kids. I
love that they feel comfortable sharing anything with our group. Then there's Nina, a girl in 4^th
grade who loves math beyond her years. She
loves asking questions and learning new things despite her older brother's inability
to read and write and her family's lack of support. But I'll never forget her smile as we give her
a new math problem.

I used to be absolutely
paranoid of mentoring young students.
But now, somehow (by the grace of God) I've been able to grow close with
several of the youth, smile, chat, teach, and just have a good time together,
while sharing God's Word and the Truth of the gospel with them in relevant ways
they can understand (hopefully). Hanging
out with these kids has contributed to about eighty five percent of the reason
that I'm going to Thailand. They've changed
the way I view the world, and God's told me to go serve Him in it.

Pastor Doug's still preachin' from that catch phrase, and is even
now challenging me to get out of my other boats. I'm eager yet scarred to dive in, knowing I need to keep my gaze fixed on Jesus, rely on His
strength, love, and compassion, not my own, lest I should drown. (See Matt 14:28-31)