march >me, my assignments have been lack luster, i've had 4-5 special (as in something other than regular wed/sun worship) events in march...on top of spring sports starting (soccer, tennis, parlay team)
I plan on taking a vacay after Holy Week....sometime adam and i will be planning our wedding (that's so weird to say)
i wrote this for an assignment for class, but i'm finding that i need to remind myself of this....
There are a lot of times in youth ministry where we as the youth minister, especially those of us who are in our first few years of ministry, think that we must be able to plan and execute every event, meeting, retreat, and fundraiser our selves and that we are the only ones that can can get anything done properly. Well after all we have been to many conventions, workshops and some of us have degrees or some form of training. By all means this means we are the only people that can make ministry happen. Only us youth ministers can make ministry happen, why after all it's a divine calling.
I am reminded of an e-mail a parent sent me, intended to brighten my day, when instead it brought much insight to my life:
A DEA officer stopped at a ranch in Texas and talked with an old rancher.
He told the rancher, "I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs."
The rancher said, "Okay , but don't go in that field over there.....", as he pointed out the location.
The DEA officer verbally exploded saying, " Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me !"
Reaching into his rear pants pocket, he removed his badge and proudly displayed it to the rancher.
"See this badge?! This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish.... On any land !!
No questions asked or answers given!! Have I made myself clear......do you understand ?!!"
The rancher nodded politely, apologized, and went about his chores.
A short time later, the old rancher heard loud screams, looked up, and saw the DEA officer running for his life, being chased by the rancher's big Santa Gertrudis bull......
With every step the bull was gaining ground on the officer, and it seemed likely that he'd sure enough get gored before he reached safety. The officer was clearly terrified.
The rancher threw down his tools, ran to the fence and yelled at the top of his lungs.....
"Your badge, show him your BADGE........ ! !"
Yes, yes, we all get a laugh, but a lot of times youth ministry is a lot like this. How many times have we responded in a less than Christian way to other members/committees in the churches we work in after we have been told no to a submitted request? What do you mean we can't take bus there? What do you mean we can't attend that church camp? Do you know who I am?I am the youth minister and I will take the church bus and the kids where I know is best for them. Who are you? You're just a chair on the finance committee, do you even know what summer camp is?
After all I have had training and I am in seminary. I should know what is best.
Before our arrogant outburst we didn't think to ask if the bus had recently had an oil change, if the compressor was working, if another group had reserved it first. We didn't think to ask people who had been in the church longer than we have if our church had been banned from the summer camp due to inappropriate exposure from previous years.
There are legitimate reasons for no. It's not that anyone is stepping on the lowly youth minister, it's not that the people of the church think they know better than we do, sometimes they genuinely do. There become times where we as youth ministers over- accredit ourselves and ministry becomes about what we as the minister want instead of what the ministry needs. We get so emerged in our role, so engulfed in the power of making decisions for others that we lose sight of ministry.
After reading Henry Nowen's book, In the Name of Jesus, I began to realize, yes, to some people it may mean something great that you have attended the national youth worker's convention for the past 24 years and that you have graduated from the top seminary in the nation with a 4.0, but none of that matters if you are not working on your own spirituality.
When we spend time worrying about "selling ourselves" with our earthly accomplishments in ministry instead of sharing with God in ministry we put ourselves and our desires above God's. We forget, or push aside our own spiritual well-being.
Nowen has reminded me that it is God who heals the broken, and not Lauren. It is Lauren that needs God and not the other way around.The church and the youth ministry will still survive with or without me.
Youth Ministry will continue without Lauren, so I need to stop being so full of myself, because just when I feel like I have accomplished a lot, just when I think I have something else to add to my resume, I think of the ONE who accomplished the ultimate sacrifice, who fulfilled the ultimate goal, the ONE who took on our burdens and sins. Christ is the one who should be lifted up and glorified, not me
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