ever noticed how people travel in attire that falls into one of these two categories?
this struck me a few days ago as i sat waiting to board my flight.
the contrast was striking enough to me that i even counted how many of each.
it got me thinking about the display i saw last summer at the air and space museum in D.C.
about how plane travel was an exceptional event and people used to get fancy to fly.
&
it got me thinking about how far we have come since the advent of passenger flight.
about how one's attire is a choice.
one part of me wants to think that:
what people choose to wear when they fly has no bearing on who they are.
but
another part of me wants to think that:
what people choose to wear when they fly definitely says something about who they are.
what do you think?
and more importantly,
what are you?
suit
or
sweatpants
?
{*suits can also be any sort of "dressy" clothes and sweats are specific to attire such as sweat or yoga pants - really, anything that one might wear to bed}
I have a large filing cabinet drawer in my living room and 3 large bins in the basement containing artifacts I have actively avoided for 3 years. Their contents represent some of the most spectacular years of my life but also some of the most painful and heartbreaking years of my adult life.
Over six years ago I interviewed for a Youth Director position at a local church.
I never thought I would end up in youth ministry and yet...
I felt compelled to apply for this position.
{Such is the way of ministry, I am told}
The church was looking to rebuild a youth program that had deeply suffered from a series of missteps following what many described as “the golden era” of youth ministry. I had a decade of experience with youth and their families across myriad settings, a few years of program development under my belt, and a “contagious enthusiasm.”
I was offered the job.
The rhythm of youth ministry suited me well.
I struggle here with wanting to write about the intricacies of my ministry experience, to include the fine details of my journey, but in sifting though all the details, I find them to be fairly inconsequential to the story.
Yesterday* I met with a former student for breakfast and I was reminded of how I felt when I resigned:
I loved my job but hated working for a church.
Yesterday I sat across from a kiddo who, when we first met, might be considered "at-risk."
He was not the easiest student to have as part of the program.
He was not a rule follower, and he did not always make the right choices.
But we hadauthentic connection
- he felt there was room for him to be genuinely known and loved -
and that has counted for a lot since day one.
Even though I was his church leader.
Even though my choices in life may be considered less risky.
Even though our interests, in general, are not particularly aligned.
Yesterday, I sat across from a young adult who has mellowed with age.
Who, having dealt with some fairly steep consequences for his actions, chose to re-connect with family and community and God in an attempt to move forward.
Since I resigned, he and I have remained in contact and have talked through a lot of the details of life. He and I have remained in authentic connection.
I am thankful for that continued relationship.
And
I am thankful for the opportunity to bear witness to God's relentless pursuit in our lives.
* I actually started this post weeks ago so it's relationship with real-time is a bit skewed.
