Never What They Seem

Over the last couple of years I have noticed that things are never as they seem. For example, in the picture above I was caught sleeping at Christmas party I went to a few months ago. By that picture, you would think that the party was a flop, boring, or lame. Not true at all! It was a blast or so I heard because I was too exhausted to stay awake after a month of being in youth ministry and four Christmas parties in one day. So you see I was not asleep in reaction to my immediate environment, but to the collection of the days behind me.

This concept of "not always what is seems" is one of the number one guidelines that you learn in earning a degree in social work. This person may have an obvious problem, but the problem is never what it seems. Nine times out of 10 there is something more behind that problem that encouraged what they are outwardly dealing with. All things are connected in people's lives. The loss of one thing creates an issue with another.We call this theory the systems theory, but you didn't come to read this blog entry to learn about theories.

I am constantly being reminded that things, people, situations are never as they seem. There is more to each of them that we may never see or consider. That is why relationships are so important. It is when we choose to love that we learn and are able to visualize the less obvious and understand the obvious. People are complex, but they do not have to stay complex. One of the reasons I fell in love with social work is the realization that people are complex until you see their humanity and need for just what you need as well. Some people hide in their complexities and that is when things become not always what they seem. When we hide, community is taken from others and restoration is taken from ourselves.

When I read the gospels, I often considered Jesus a complex being the majority of his life story here on earth until I read the story of the crucifixion. It is in this story that we realize that his purpose was not always what it seemed. There was something more to him that we see in the ultimate display of humanity in death. There was something more to his behavior, his words, and his love. Jesus did not hide within his misunderstood complexities, but rather allowed and invited community because of it. He invited relationship to himself to those around him. Maybe we should all acknowledge our own complexity and follow Jesus into the invitation of relationship and understanding of our complicated layers to those around us.

Until then, everything will remain not what it seems. Sometimes that distorted lack of reality and truth can become overwhelming or just the opposite, too comfortable. I encourage each of you to dig deep into the people around you. Dig deep into the situations you are in that leave you disheartened. Dig deep into the things of this life that break or fool your heart. Dig deep and I think that what you will find will not be easy, but a simple need that everyone has and can potentially fill with the Spirit of the Lord. Well, I am just a bamboo shoot growing a mile a minute; hope to catch you on the next mile!

How Low Can You Go?

This past weekend was one of the craziest and most exciting weekends I have ever had. This past weekend I took my first trip with the Otter Creek youth group on our annual Mystery Trip. The kids had no idea where we were heading or where we were ending. This picture above shows their confusion and eagerness to discover what lied ahead 72 hours down the road. We were gone 72 hours total and spent 40 of those in a charter bus we had rented.

Each possible city along the way was considered by each teen and then passed by. Atlanta, Macon, Jacksonville, Orlando, and finally Miami. There was a bit of disappointment concerning Orlando for obvious reasons, but then came just utter confusion. What could be down that far? Then came the answer. We were going to Key West to camp out and snorkel. We came to a complete suprise of the Link family at the campground that night. The Links have been traveling the United States since the summer and will continue on until about late May. It was such a gift to be able to see old friends and familiar faces.

The next morning we got up and visited the most southern tip of the United States and had communion. After communion, we boarded a boat and went snorkeling on a reef. The sky was overcast and the wind was enough to rouse up some pretty rough waves, but continued to anticipate our long awaited event. We finally arrived and dropped anchor. It began to rain, but did not stop anyone from jumping in the water. Yet, the one thing that kept anyone from jumping in the water was sea sickness. People started to throw-up left and right over the boat. Those who did make it into the water were not disappointed. God's creation continued to move and amaze even though everything above it was chaos.

After about 45 minutes, we loaded back onto the boat and returned to shore. We loaded the bus and began our long journey home. Thankfully our return to Nashville was broken up by a pleasant and much needed stop to Julie(one of our youth leaders)sister's home to spend the night. We processed our weekend and retired for the rest of the night to count the remaining miles in our sleep. We got home to Nashville Monday afternoon around 4:30. It was an amazing trip full of laughs, sickness, sleep, and stories that all add up to tremendous memories. I could not have asked for a better first trip with my amazing students. God is truly faithful and alive in all we do with a full heart.

So much has changed about my life in the last year. After taking a trip like this it is hard for me to believe that a year ago I was working in Hospice and wondering where I was going to go to grad school. It is hard for me to believe that God has willingly led a blind stubborn fool to this beautiful and unexpected place. I am convinced that my whole life is a mystery trip guessing and wondering whether to stop or go at each destination and choice. It is the driver's seat where I want God to be, but also in the rearview mirror and the passenger seat. Surround my journey O Lord for I need you to be my vehicle. Well, I am just a bamboo shoot growing a mile a minute; hope to catch you on the next mile!!

First Steps into the First...well...EVERYTHING!

Just last week I celebrated my first month anniversary in my new job as a youth minister. For those of you that forgot, it is ok I will still accept cards and gifts. Ha! Many of you have been asking how the job's been going. The job has been going really well and I getting to learn a ton. It often can keep me very busy, but busy with things that I love to do and with people that I absolutely enjoy being with.

It has only been a month, but I have learned and experienced so much already. I am learning mostly how to plan for a large youth group and all that comes with it. Sometimes I hit the mark and sometimes I don't, but I am learning no matter. David always encouragingly reminds me that no matter how events, classes, or plans happen that it will all work out and may not even be remembered years later. Yet, I am pretty sure that there are several things that I will not forget from my first month. For example, those of you that are or remember being newly weds often comment on how hard it is to get used to cooking for two. Well, let me offer some reassurance in that you have it good friends. Try providing food and appropriate themed snacks for 100 or so teenagers.

Within, the first two weeks I had credit card in hand walking into Kroger with a charge to buy ice cream for our Purity Panel event. We wanted to buy the Purity brand ice cream in order to go along with the theme. Now here in our story is where I must plug in that in the process of my learning expected questions are already forming between David (my partner in the youth ministry) and I as a team. My personal favorite expected learning question for David is 'How much?' How much...do we get, should we spend, or are we expecting? This is a question that I will always be learning the answer to when it comes to a youth group our size. Now moving on to the story.

I proceed to the ice cream freezer in Kroger. I begin to pull out ice cream cartons and eventually clear out their stock in order to provide for our large "family" of teenagers. I then buy plenty of toppings and various Purity brand products. While roaming around with my now full cart I get comments and stares from each normal passing shopper. I pull up to the counter and purchase the ice cream and its accessories. I felt as though I was buying for the Dugger family birthday party. I ended up buying 14 1/2 gallons of ice cream, 4 bottles of chocolate syrup, 4 jars of carmel sauce, 3 jars of cherries, 2 jars of nuts, 4 cans of whipped cream, and 6 gallons of various Purity milk.

Another example of this 'How much?' phenominon, occured this past week for one of our Christmas parties. We wanted to have some fun snacks for our last class before Christmas so I purchased 10 dozen christmas cookies which led to me cleaning out half of Kroger's fresh cookie supply and various amounts of egg nog and boiled custard. Believe me though when I say that we eat MOST of what we buy for these events. Teenagers are always hungry and always prepared to be fed.

Other firsts you ask? Well, I was attending a Christmas party this past weekend and it snowed on my car for the first time in Nashville! Regina and Michael gave me a great lesson in snow/ice scraping my window shield. I have also had my first celebrity sighting. Thursday morning Heather and Sara were driving through on their way home so we naturally went to Panera to eat breakfast in Brentwood. Well, who should walk in, but Scott Hamilton, the professional figure skater.

Among other firsts, I have written my first parent e-mail that happened to be exceptionally wordy and long (whoops), taught my first 7-8th grade class, help plan my first real Wednesday night layout, put up my own outdoor Christmas lights, and traveled throughtout Nashville WITHOUT my GPS for a day. This move has brought about some very challenging and welcomed experiences. I suggest it for anyone who is sitting on their couch wondering whether this type of move in life is worth it. YES!!! I am having a blast, learning a ton, and getting to meet and invest in incredible people daily. And if you are thinking, "Where could I go to do that?" the answer is, of course, Nashville! I look forward to sharing other first stories with you, but until then enjoy your Christmas holidays as I know I will with it being my first Christmas out of college! Well, I am just a bamboo shoot growing a mile a minute; hope to catch you on the next mile!

*photo courtesy of Regina Claud Hampton