Last night the leadership team of our young adults group sat around my table to celebrate two years together! It really does seem like half-a-hot-second ago when we sat around thinking about what we'd do if our church ever started a Young Adults Ministry. And here we are. That's a definite cause for celebration!
When I asked the team what they wanted to do, I expected a trip to the local tourist Mecca, Orlando. Or at least a night out in the hopping metropolis of Lakeland. Or even just dinner and a movie. But, of these riveting options, they chose to come cook dinner and sit in my tiny apartment. "Really? Well alright then. See you tomorrow at 6."
I love how they love each other. I love that they're comfortable together without the mindless distractions so many others need to relate.
My favorite part of the evening? We really didn't talk about church - at all. We laughed (most of the time with, but sometimes at each other). We ate. We shared secrets about our lives with God. There was a clandestine acknowledgment of the weight of our journeys' secrets. We all carry them. And here, in my little 600-sq.-foot apartment, we can let them out a little at a time and know that brothers and sisters will help...not hurt.
It has been incredible to watch each of us grow through these two years. In a generation that demands everyone "get real," I'm perhaps sinfully proud to say these guys are. Real. I thought about the things we've been through together that have brought us to this place: People coming and going. Hearts being broken and then put back together. The loss of loved ones. The anticipation of dreams fulfilled or once-in-a-lifetime love found. The genuine celebrations of life's biggest and "smallest" accomplishments. The struggle of putting adolescence to rest (sort of :) and embracing maturity. And I love that they've chosen to walk this path together. Nobody gets left behind.
Everyone should have friends like this...
1 comment:
This touched my heart immensely. I am so thankful that the Lord gave me the opportunity to take part in this wonderful ministry. As Chris and I drove home from the anniversary celebration, we sat in silence for awhile until I chimed in, "I'm really going to miss this. These are our friends, this is our family. This is a safe place." It's amazing to me that, although he has only been attending for a fraction of the time that I have, he felt the exact same way and with the same urgency. Everyone should have friends like this.
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