Where does that leave them, then?

Have you ever gotten a reminder you didn't even know you needed?  Sometimes it isn't so fun, is it? Thankfully, when I got one this past weekend, it might have been a hard reminder, but it was definitely still a fun time!  This year, I was able to travel to Winterfest with one of groups I go to camp with up in Indiana.  At this particular camp, I am a counselor for the middle school girls' cabin... and three of my girls from this youth group were old enough to go on the trip! It was great to see everyone that I usually only see them at camp each summer. AND adding to that when I left last summer, we all thought I wouldn't see them for at least two or three years...

Anyway on Friday, I was sitting on the bus... we were somewhere in Kentucky and I turned around and saw this:

That's two of my girls. And THAT is the reminder I needed. You see, I had forgotten what it was like to be looked up to. The past several months I've been in a position that has expected me to look up to others.  I became almost complacent with my faith and walk.  I wasn't trying as hard... But this weekend, every hug, every smile, every time a hand or arm took mine, every time I turned around I had the reminder of why I should try.

Going one step further, our theme this year was "12" and all the lessons were on twelve spiritual disciplines that will help us grow in our faith. That was really cool, because it's something we often forget the teens can handle and at the same time for the adults need reminders of.... And as I sat listening (always next to at least one of my girls, sometimes two of them), I got not only the reminder that I need to be practicing these myself, but I was also getting another level added to my reminder of what it's like to be looked up to.  If these girls, and others I come into contact with are looking up to me... I'm going to be one of those people they learn these disciplines from. I'm going to be one of the people they look to for guidance when its hard to remember the value of these disciplines. And if I haven't practiced them, if I haven't been working on them myself, if I'm not constantly working to become better.... where does that leave them? If none of us have practiced them, if we haven't been working on them, if we're not constantly working to become better.... where does that leave the younger generation?