Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Dearest God,

Seven youth. That's what I have in my confirmation class. Seven youth.

As the new year rolled around, I was not looking forward to conducting a confirmation class. Why? My health was at an all-time low. A friendship had been lost. A church issue was consuming my time. Personal issues were sucking the life out of me. I could not imagine having the energy to prepare and orchestrate a confirmation class for teens.

And yet with determination I held the orientation class. Following the class youth and parents shared concerns over the requirements, mandatory attendance and time in class and with mentors. One parent stated they had no idea so much was involved. I was ready to cancel it. In fact that's what I said to a couple of parents. The kids could wait for the next pastor. I simply had no energy left and I was not going to do a disservice to the youth by diminishing the program. They deserved the best and even in a debilitating emotional, physical and spiritual condition I held my ground.

Now, I know why. Tonight we met together. I gave them a pop quiz. Oh, not a memorization quiz, like write down all the books of the Bible or who said? Rather I asked eight questions. What is the Bible? What is the value of the Bible? What is the biggest question you have about the Bible? We traded papers and then we discussed the answers. I've never held a confirmation class where kids shared more thoughtful answers. The discussion was amazing as we wrestled with the big questions. At times we could have heard a pin drop; they were hanging on the discussion. I felt faith alive, being bounced around, wrestled with, savored. I was proud and humbled at the same time.

Later I asked a couple of girls if they liked confirmation. (Like they're going to tell me no) "We love it." They both said at the same time. "We love it."

They love learning
about you,
Lord.
When discussing
the question
of evolution
and creationism,
one girl
raised her hand
in her
school class
when asked
who believed
in creationism,
my youth said,
"I put up
my hand.
I was proud
to say
what I believed."
Faith
in-the-making,
that's what
it is,
faith
in-the-making.

So grateful, Andrea