Own
It!!
It's
not magic, by any stretch of the imagination, though some
folks think so.
After evening services I stopped by a
local fast-food spot for a burger and coke, and to review the
invigorating fellowship and scripture study with other Christians,
I'd just been a part of.
There were not many others there,
except THEM! “THEM” is a capitalized word we often use to direct
our attention to others, of a special nature. “THEM” fits here.
At one booth, were 5 teens, somewhere in the 16 to 19 year old age
range. They were all busy playing a board game using cards a bit like
Monopoly property cards. They were in no way loud or routey. As I
left for home, I stopped and said, “Hi. I'm from the Monopoly game
era.” (pointing at my silver hair) I asked the teen closest to the
aisle, “If you don't mind me asking, what's the name of that game?”
His reply sounded something like, 'Magic Gathering'. I voiced a thank
you, and headed for my truck, and then home, still amazed that none
of the 5 youth were currently using an ipod or iphone.
One of THEM was a girl with an
appearance I'll remember for quite some time to come. She had on a
black shirt with long sleeves that covered everything but her
fingertips. She wore matching leotards with a cheerleader-type skirt.
Her long straight hair was tinted an iridescent ruby red that stops
traffic - pedestrian or vehicle. More striking, though, was her
three lower lip rings, oddly centered to the left side of her mouth.
As I thought about her, I sensed the pain and verbal abuse she has
endured in the piercings, and hair coloring. For now, I'll call her
'Ruby'.
Though I'm always startled, at first,
at the appearance of such youth, my heart grabs me with the belief
they are crying out, to anyone that will care about them, let alone
love them, for who they are. I always picture these youth as a sole
occupant on a storm-tossed ship, crying out, “WHERE IS A
LIGHTHOUSE? I'M HEADED FOR THE ROCKS, AND NO-ONE CARES!”
In my mind, the vision of Ruby and her
friends continually contrasts against the evening service I had just
attended. And there was something very striking about the service
filled with fellowship, sharing God's promises of peace, hope, love,
and provision. What struck me is that the only youth that were there,
were the pastor's children. Maybe part of the reason was that it just
seemed like most of the lesson and prayer requests were adult
oriented, with subtle gestures for the children to behave. So often,
church services seem to say that children (even teens), should be
seen and not heard.
