The year was 2007. I was at a crossroads of trying to decide if youth ministry was going to be my career. I had spent an entire year as an intern at one of the largest churches in the United States. I felt fortunate to work with some of the best people in the field of youth ministry and felt confident I would find a job of my own. Yet, this anxiety lingered. I could feel it in my gut as the time drew near for me to take the next steps. Was youth ministry for me?
One of the perks of being an intern was the amount of service projects and mission trips with the middle school students. In the summer of that year, seven leaders and I managed to fly 30 middle school students to the Navajo reservation near Flagstaff, Arizona. Why Arizona? Why Navajo? Why 30 middle school students? All of which are great questions when navigating your summer plans... right? Turns out the church I was interning with, was supporting the Navajo Christian Foundation (which still has its doors open today). This foundation was reaching out to the Navajo youth. Poverty coupled with alcoholic fathers was the cycle for several years and the foundation wanted to be a light in the community; to point to a better way; to heal and find purpose.
We spent the week cleaning around the facilities; meeting locals and inviting them to our week-long Vacation Bible School; played games; shared meals. In that short period of time, we did a great deal. We were tired yet full of joy. We witnessed life change of a Navajo Dad agreeing to go to rehab for the sake of his family. It wasn't just the Navajo people experiencing change... so did our youth. So did I. I learned that dividing walls begin to fall when we see one another as brothers and sisters. When we invest into building relationships, without motives, and simply care for humanity and serve.
On the last day of our mission trip, before flying home, we drove these middle school students to the Grand Canyon. I have always seen pictures and watched videos from National Geographic, so I was thrilled to be able to see this world wonder. The line to park was quite long and I recall my patience running thin with middle school sounds and smells in the packed van. To make matters even more enjoyable, the dry heat outside was nearly 98 degrees and our AC was not gracious to us. The time finally came for us to unload the van and walk to one of the lookout posts. 30 middle school students receiving the opportunity to take in all the beauty of God's creation lasted all but 60 seconds. I felt like the Griswold's. That memory will be one that I will never forget for a host of reasons. And in case you are wondering, I did stay back to take in the views a little longer before I had to get back to my job of watching kids.
Isn't it interesting how we can arrive at beautiful moments in life only to return to a hot van, full of stinky middle school students? How can such moments coincide within the same day, only minutes apart? It has me wondering about the blood, sweat, and tears we invest into our goals and when we arrive to the apex, we still lack something within our minds and hearts. It isn't that we do not appreciate at arriving... could it be that we also find just as much joy, if not more, through the process?
Being a youth minister might not be the title I have today, but I like to consider myself one. I have been teaching for nearly 15 years now and I care and serve the students in my classroom no different than when I was within the walls of a church. In fact, I find more joy in acting out my faith than I do talking about it. After all, working in the public schools, I cannot exactly go around sharing John 3:16 with my mouth. I at least can share it through my actions--and that is truly a joyous process.
If thinking about goals vs process as an educator, one of my goals as a band director was to take one of my ensembles to perform at the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) Professional Development Conference. This is one of the greatest honors a director, in their state, can receive. I set a goal for my students and program to receive this opportunity. To be selected, a director has to submit recordings of his/her ensemble to the KMEA Board. A listening committee is then assigned to listen to the recordings and select only the best. In 2020, I was on cloud nine that our program was invited!
Building up to the performance, I knew I had to put together my program for our audience members. These (usually) are to look formal, including letters from prominent people in education and the music world. It is also to provide your listeners with the repertoire being performed and program notes from the composer/publisher. In addition to your performer names and instrumentation, there is usually a biography page for the director to create. I was good up to this point. What does a director say when they have finally reached their goal of being selected for this prestigious conference? I would type out my biography and delete-all. This went on for about a week and the deadline finally came. If I was going to put into print anything for my music colleagues to read, what would I want them to know? That is when my creativity took flight.
It is all about the process!
[This was the page I shared and it is still my heart, to this day, as a teacher]
Might we find joy in the process and know that reaching our goals is only a reflection of what we are hoping for continually. Might the biography page of our life reflect a process of continual love. Though it can be messy and imperfect, we are all leaving a legacy of some kind. Might it be a legacy that made the world a little bit better than we found it. And should we arrive at the Grand Canyon... don't forget the blessings of those who made the climb with you...even if they are 30 loud, smelly middle school students.
Comentarios