OK Ok Ok I'll post

Back by popular demand. That's right!! It's a new post. However, since it's almost midnight, it will have to be brief.

Since I took so much grief from you guys about not having posted, I decided I would stop being lazy and put something out there for you. And by the way, now that I'm doing this, it makes me wonder: if you guys are wanting me to put something on the blog, then why not email me? Or leave a comment or something? It's just a thought. I'm not the kind of guy that needs a ton of pats on the back or anything, but a comment on the post, just to let me know your out there goes a long way towards motivating me to write something.

Now that I'm off my soap box. I'll put something out there worth reading...This one is for you graduates. In the life of a youth minister every year, there is this season where students graduate and I find myself attending every last minute ball game, concert, competition, party, award ceremony that I can possibly attend. Then that season is followed up by graduation...the granddaddy of all ceremonies for a high school student. While I can't make it to every graduation because of scheduling conflicts, having to be in two places at once, raising a 10 month old, and trying to be a family man, etc. I do try to make it to as many as I can. This is something that I do with a smile eventhough graduations are boring. Dreadfully boring at times.

But every time I find myself fighting traffic, fighting crowds, squeezing into seats that are made for someone half my size, listening to people talk that I don't know (and often times aren't very interesting) somewhere in the midst of all that I always have a moment to reflect back on the student/s that I'm there to see. I get to think back to when I first met them. To reflect on how they've grown. To see where God has moved in their lives. I remember retreats and trips and conversations and laughs...and I relive in just a few short moments some many good memories. And I'm proud. Proud to know those students. Proud to know that I'm there because I was allowed the priveledge of being a part of their lives. Proud to know that they've accomplished something. It's an incredible honor that I've been given to know students from when they were children and then see them walk across that stage and become young adults.

Then after a few moments of reflecting I wonder...I begin to wonder if that student I've shared so many good memories with will remember me in 10, 20, 30 years? Will that person remember the things I tried to teach them? Will the life lessons make a difference? Will they go to college or get a job and remember that being a Christian isn't something that you do, it's who you are? Will they remember that the church exists for them and they for the church? Will they be one of the masses that falls away from Christ and his church for a season? for forever? or will they be faithful? will they be a revolutionary? will they give back to others the way that others have given to them? I wonder...

Graduations are not fun...but they are necessary. The are necessary for the student and for those involved in their lives. They are a time for us to reflect on where the student has come from, where the student is now, and pray for where they are going. Class of 2007...you are in my prayers.

jeremy