Last night there was a, for the most part, NON-sleep over for the youth. This is an annual thing we do here. We round up the pre-teen and teens, cart in sleeping bags, pillows, and bags of snacks and settle down for fun activity and movie viewing. Oh there is a bit of learning too. This year we talked about caring for the environment and the weekly meal we offer in our Out of the Cold program. We played some environmentally related games and did some baking for Out of the Cold. We had a blast … but we didn’t sleep much. It was about 3:00 AM when kids started drifting towards couches and I heard the last giggle at around 6:00 AM. We got them up at 7:30 as parents came for pick up at 8:00. We all agreed next year we will have to stay later in the morning. It is too hard to get up that early!
Now I am preparing to assist in leadership at the funeral of one of our elders. Vern was a great guy. He was the founding member of our Olde Tyme Gospel Band. He had his pew at the back of the church. He would often show up at my door and sit for a bit while we talked over the state of things! Then just as he was ready to leave he would say, “I’ve got a little story for you.” and he would tell me a joke. I am going to miss those friendly visits. He and his wife had been married for over 60 years. I try to imagine the loss she is feeling.
So, I guess this is my weekend of youth and elders; honouring both ends of the age spectrum that make up the richness of our faith community. I have gone from playing games and laughing at movie antics to singing old gospel hymns and reminiscing about one who loved family, community and faith above all else. This is the delight that ministry gives me day after day and week after week; a full-on spectrum of opportunity to be with people young and old. Sometimes I get frustrated with the pettiness of people, the complaints that people make, the things that people say, but then I remember days like today and know that the complexities of community is what makes life rich and wonderful.
