The Want To

This could have been me.... maybe a few years younger, and definitely a few pounds lighter, but other than that... it could have been me. I had the "want to." In college I took a class in back packing and we got to take a field trip to the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma to go rock climbing. It was great! You reach a point where you aren't sure you can go further, but that really isn't an option. Going back down is not any easier than going up, so you might as well go up. You can't exactly quit either. I've never been particularly successful at athletics, so to make it to the top rated as a day of remembrance. At our church picnic we had a bounce house, a dunk tank and a rock wall. There was still that 19 year-old voice saying "Rock Climbing! Way cool! Do it! Do it! Do it!!!" But then there was the 40+ voice of rationality saying "You weigh too much. You'll bring down the tower. You can barely lift your feet to put on socks much less raise your leg higher than your waist!" The good news? Our kids (and our Parish Associate) had neither trepidation nor doubts. If they didn't make it up one side, they tried another side. They climbed higher than anyone could reach, and were lifted by words of encouragement rather than words of protest. I didn't hear one person complain that it was their turn.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We have the "want to." We want to do better, we want to reach higher, we want to dream bigger but sometimes we listen to our doubts and we question the practicality of the situation. We reach a point where we have to decide which direction to go, and quitting is not an option. Let us follow the lead of the youth who boldly proceed, trusting that they are secure with a church family that will offer guidance, soften the landing, and remind them of their goal to move upwards. We have remarkable youth who exhibit the confidence of being loved unconditionally. We want to be what you want us to be. Amen