So I did something last night I have not done in a very long time. I was at a campfire with a bunch of youth. Where did this happen you might ask in the middle of the city during the middle of the week? Well, it was right in the backyard of our church. For those of you who don’t know, there is a great space down behind the back of our church building that has a huge fire pit, benches, and not one, but two crosses. We were very careful in this dry season, making sure the fire pit was prepared, bringing down a hose watching 35 youth from 5th -12th grades manage hotdogs and marshmallows. Everything went well.
Andrew, Terri, the other Confirmation adults, and I planned a time to just hang out together. Terri got the hotdogs and the s ‘more fixings and the roasting sticks, she is great with that kind of thing. Andrew told a great story about a time that has stayed with him for 16 years that happened around a campfire. Believe it or not we sang or tried to sing a few songs. My mind went blank and the only thing I could think of that we all knew was “This is the Day.” So we sang, pretty well too. And even though it was a night of parent/teacher conferences at EP we had 40 kids and adults. It was a great time.
The moment I’m remembering right now is when I asked each of the youth and adults to look into the fire and to be quiet for a minute. I had given them a question, something like, “Where was God with you today?” However, what I want to tell you about happened as they were staring at the coals and the small flames. First of all everyone, and I mean everyone, even the one guy who cannot sit still, was sitting still looking into the fire. Have you ever looked at people who are sitting in a circle looking at a fire together? It is really quite amazing. And when it is about 40 people of all ages sitting as still as any of us could it was, well moving.
When people look at a fire together there is something primal about the experience. Maybe it is that sense of warmth and protection that fire gave our ancestors that draws us in. Maybe it was the presence of what is Holy and true, providing a moment of grace. Maybe it was the hot dogs and the s ‘mores, that had satisfied even the most veracious adolescent appetites, I don’t know. Whatever it was, it was a moment that will not soon be forgotten. Faces glowed, hearts were moved, and when it came time to share what they had thought about the question, it was one of the oldest and then one of the youngest who had something to say. It really was as good as it gets.
I think what I wanted to do today is to just let you know this happened. Whether you have a kid this age or not; you should know that there are a great many things like this happening here at EPUMC. It is such a privilege to witness what God is up to in this place.
Keep the Faith,
Dan
Andrew, Terri, the other Confirmation adults, and I planned a time to just hang out together. Terri got the hotdogs and the s ‘more fixings and the roasting sticks, she is great with that kind of thing. Andrew told a great story about a time that has stayed with him for 16 years that happened around a campfire. Believe it or not we sang or tried to sing a few songs. My mind went blank and the only thing I could think of that we all knew was “This is the Day.” So we sang, pretty well too. And even though it was a night of parent/teacher conferences at EP we had 40 kids and adults. It was a great time.
The moment I’m remembering right now is when I asked each of the youth and adults to look into the fire and to be quiet for a minute. I had given them a question, something like, “Where was God with you today?” However, what I want to tell you about happened as they were staring at the coals and the small flames. First of all everyone, and I mean everyone, even the one guy who cannot sit still, was sitting still looking into the fire. Have you ever looked at people who are sitting in a circle looking at a fire together? It is really quite amazing. And when it is about 40 people of all ages sitting as still as any of us could it was, well moving.
When people look at a fire together there is something primal about the experience. Maybe it is that sense of warmth and protection that fire gave our ancestors that draws us in. Maybe it was the presence of what is Holy and true, providing a moment of grace. Maybe it was the hot dogs and the s ‘mores, that had satisfied even the most veracious adolescent appetites, I don’t know. Whatever it was, it was a moment that will not soon be forgotten. Faces glowed, hearts were moved, and when it came time to share what they had thought about the question, it was one of the oldest and then one of the youngest who had something to say. It really was as good as it gets.
I think what I wanted to do today is to just let you know this happened. Whether you have a kid this age or not; you should know that there are a great many things like this happening here at EPUMC. It is such a privilege to witness what God is up to in this place.
Keep the Faith,
Dan
RSS Feed
