Yesterday was a busy one as my sixteen staff and I made final preparations for our Early Bird week - the first week of programming (which doubles as the final component of YouthWorks training) at our site in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. We had a long morning at Sam's Club, a full afternoon of planning, practicing, cleaning, and tying up loose ends. The day didn't flow as smoothly or feel as productive as I had originally hoped, but all in all it was fine. Eating a Cajun feast of jambalaya and boiled shrimp cooked by our friend Robert was a great way to end the day (few things bring me more happiness than eating Cajun cuisine), and a stop at Sonic on the way home was icing on the cake - or a cherry in the slush, as it were. As I walked from my car to the community center where we stay, I concluded that it had been a good day. But God wasn't done yet.
Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD,
who stand by night in the house of the LORD!
Lift up your hands to the holy place
and bless the LORD!
Psalm 134:1-2
I opened the door and heard a guitar being played, coupled with the unmistakable beat of a djembe drum. At first I thought a couple of my staff were just having a little jam session. As I walked farther in, I realized that in the darkness of the cavernous gym, several of my staff had gathered together in worship and were singing their hearts out to the One who had called them into this harrowing, exhausting, undoubtedly life-altering adventure this summer.
The joy that stirred within me as I paced around this gym-turned-sanctuary led me to imagine the great delight that our God must take in the praises of his children. How right and good that He be lifted up and exalted in this place. I found myself humbled, knowing that this was nothing I had planned or put on any agenda - yet nothing could have been more important for these staff at that moment. I was reminded of what is most important: more than leading a meal crew well, more than giving a thorough orientation, more than having every sign hung perfectly, I want these staff to be pursuing and exalting God's glory, to know Him and hunger to know Him more, to be in a constant attitude of worship.
As I reflect this morning, I find comfort in Jesus's admonition to Martha:
"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42
There are many tasks and details and relationships to juggle in a YouthWorks summer. I pray that at the end of each day, there would be just one thing on the hearts and minds of my staff.
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4 comments:
What a great piece to read as all of my staff are arriving. Your post couldn't have come at a better time. I like the way the Lord works. :)
Hope you are well!
:) -CJ
Ohh Early Bird in Bayou.. My first week of YW 6 summers ago. Amen for Robert still serving and amen for Sonic... God is good..
Jenilyn, your post encourages my heart. I have prayed that verse many times over youthworks and the staffs that come through here. I never learned that lesson too well during my YW summers-and it definitly showed. If being in Cairo has taught me anything, it is the absolute neccesity of keeping the one thing the true ONE THING. The Lord is going to use you this summer to help your staff remember that during the "harrowing adventure";) Thank you for sharing what God is doing.
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