Do justice, Love Kindness...

What a great weekend...though I need a weekend to recover from it! I spent it at Lazy F Camp and Retreat Center (located just outside of Ellensburg, WA) with 20 youth from the district (and about 6 other adults)to reflect on the topic, "Change Your World - Now"

This was the first district youth retreat in a number of years, and the timing of it kept many away because of sports, band, and other kinds of school commitments. And, the flu too, took a toll. But those who came?? Oh. My. Goodness!!

I knew it was going to be a different kind of weekend right from the start. You know that awkward registration time when people are arriving and don't know each other yet or feel comfortable? The youth had a lovely way of welcoming people as they arrived, pulling them into a game or conversation. It wasn't anything planned. There was no script that said, "go up and talk to new people when they walk in the door." It was their natural instinct.

Marieke (on the camp staff) supervised one of the three work groups on Saturday that tackled projects that needed doing around camp. "They worked really hard, and they had this great way of making it all really fun, too...they're really full of life and joy"

Ryan (also on the camp staff) was blown away. He opened Saturday evening's dance with a hoe-down and square-dancing. (you'd have to know Ryan to know that this would totally goofy fun) After he left, the youth took it to brand new realms - square dancing to hip-hop music.

They really seem to get that church is about being a community of practice, where we develop certain "muscles" within ourselves, practice them with one another, and find support as we try to use those muscles in how we live our lives and interact with all people and situations.

For those of you who have been reading Bishop Schnase's book, "Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations" - that's exactly what he's getting at. Radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith-development, risk-taking mission and service, extravagant generosity.

The retreat approached it all from a totally different angle...but in the end that's what the retreat was about and what the youth embodied. Being in the midst of that kind of community is energizing and inspiring...and to this 51 year old introvert also a tad bit exhausting.

But it's Monday morning, and I had a long nap yesterday and a good night's sleep and I'm missing those kids.