The sudden influx of mutant dandelions in our otherwise modest backyard, remind me that once again, summer is just around the corner. While most institutions and study groups are gearing down for the (hopefully) sunny season, I feel that the Young Adults group is really just starting to gear up.
After a few weeks of DVD studies, and individual bible studies at the start of the year, we are now kicking things up a notch, as we dive into the big question of ‘How do we live kingdom first?’ and then going forth, and doing just that.
I hear “love your neighbour” and quickly pictures of my family, friends, church family, and my next door neighbor come to mind. Well sure, I love them. Even when they annoy me. I’ve mowed buddy’s lawn – and he’s a heathen. I’ll drop everything to make sure I have time to help a friend. I even shovelled a strangers side-walk (that one time). Sure, loving my neighbors comes easy to me.
And as quickly as my sense of accomplishment flooded in, it fades out.
I left for Kenya on March 20th, 2013 for my stay of 11 days. Since the Kenyan election was held on March 4th and the unpredictability of peace was present, I went by myself instead of taking a group of people with me. It was very different being by myself at HopeCC but the boys’ talking and laughter on the other side of the wall in the boys’ dorm where I was staying, kept me entertained and put a smile on my face. It was a busy week for me, teaching and speaking with the students. It was a great though stretching!
For some reason, maybe it’s the ‘Ides of March’ effect, this month is always a tough time to manoeuver. Last year we were wondering if we would have space for the upcoming school year program when the promised portables fell through…..of course they did appear, 3 of them, just in time.
In February we had an “end of joy project” party at Kim and Curtis Smith’s house. It was good. There was home-grown visual art on display. Some girls performed a dance. Curtis played some music with Wade and David Oostra. There was karaoke and fireworks and lots of food. Some neighbors came. It was a full house and it was fun.
Of course everything is cyclical; it all comes to pass. So does this mean that there is no more talk of joy and art around here after that party? Do we need another theme for the next cycle?
My kids were buzzing with chatter, smiles and wonder. We were leaving the Ode to Joy Finale (too early…bedtimes), having watched fireworks that seemed to go on delightfully longer than any of us imagined. They and their cohort had wandered in wonder at the food, the people and the visual promise of the fun to be had in the hospitable Smith home. They had piled into the back of pickup trucks to watch the sky explode in light and color. They had heard the adults of their church cracking good natured jokes, and they had breathed air full of joy and laughter. And it just struck me again: We are so blessed! My kids are so blessed. My kids get to grow up in church. My kids get to grow up in a healthy church. My kids get to grow up in a church that does a pretty good job of celebration.
