Weekend fun, new adventures and the night sky

I love summer weather. I love the sun, the warmth and the reminder that new life is always in the air.

I was away this past weekend on a 4th and 5th grade retreat (as a guest speaker/ leader). We had about 11 or so kids going, and it was AWESOME. We went to the Lake Geneva Youth Center, and had a full weekend of activities.

Friday night, just after we arrived I spoke on Ps. 31.7 and shared that it's ok to have feelings. It's ok to feel sad at times, and that in everything we're feeling we need to be able to trust God. I was a bit bold and said that God won't ALWAYS take away our sad feelings, but He is always there to be with us in whatever we're feeling and to comfort us. I felt really good about it. It was interactive and the kids participated really well.

On Saturday we had a great time. After our morning meeting we went to the zipline (about 20 or 30 feet off the ground) and had an amazing time. Let me just say, in my mind every one of those kids are amazingly bold. When I was that age, I was so scared of roller coasters, or anything off the ground with speed. I actually conquered my fear of coasters at age 14. for these kids that's another 4 or 5 years away. So for them to take the risk of climbing a long ladder, standing on a TINY platform in the wind, and then jump off and trust the line to carry them to the end was so cool.

After that we went over to the gym and played a bit of dodge ball while some of the other kids went down to the water and played around in the canoes. We then went to the Giant Scream Swing. The Giant Scream Swing is a large swing(as you may have guessed) that's about 70 feet off the ground. The swing is raised by wench, and it carries 3 people, and once you get to the top, you have to pull this cord that releases the swing.

I went with two of the guys, and the first two times we had minor issues with the release hook, so it actually DIDN'T release! They finally got a new part in, and took us back up a 3rd time and WHOOOOOOOSH!!! away we went. It was AWESOME, and every kid there was so brave to ride that thing. I was really shocked by the lesson in faith that was there. It took a lot of faith to get on the zipline and swing and trust that everything was going to hold up and that the rope we were given was going to carry us through to the end. What a major lesson in faith! In England I had to trust that as thin as the "rope" felt at times, it was enough to get me through. And I will always be grateful for those friends that I had who stuck with me, even when I didn't know how to talk about how I was feeling. They were there to support me in what ways they could, and that is no small thing. Sometimes, we just need people who are willing to sit with us and not say a word (like Job's three friends when they first came and sat with him).

last night Dan was the other guest speaker and he did SO GOOD! We had a time of soaking (which is just getting comfortable and focusing on what God wants to say to you with some God-focused music on in the background). I think most of the kids were challenged and impacted by that as well. I know I for one loved it!

Overall, I was really pleased with the weekend, and God totally showed up and rocked my world with a new passion and fire for getting back into ministry.

To further challenge me, I am going away this Wednesday to New Mexico (just like Old Mexico, only a lot less fun!) for a youth conference. I'll be going with a buddy of mine from church and we'll be staying with a friend of ours who is a youth leader of a church in a small town called Taos. I can't wait to be out with the stars at night.

I used to love going out to see the night sky when I was in England. There was even one night where I saw a meteor shower. Something about the vast expanse of the sky at night fills me with wonder and awe. I find a lot of comfort in the wonder of the creativeness of God in nature. I love the mountains, the sky at night, and wandering through the forest. I love riding horses, going swimming and generally enjoying the outdoors (away from the big city). But I also love the social times of city life. This is where my friends are and my roots. I wonder if I will ever be able to re-plant somewhere else?

There are moments like this weekend, where I feel that life is such a beautiful thing, and it's a sharp contrast to where I was 6 months ago. I don't want to live in my comfort zones, but I also don't want to be pushed to those limits ever again. Is there some way to live between these "life is beautiful" moments and the "I'm done with life!!" moments? I hope so...

Anyway, My parents are coming to see me in a week and a half, so this next month is sure to be a good one. We'll see when I post again :-)

~till next time
Paul