Saturday, August 16, 2008

Junior High & Dances

Thursday night I had the pleasure of going to a training session for this place called The Powerhouse. It's a place where kids can come after school and hang out and where adults can build relationships with kids aging between 12-18 (6th grade through Senior in High School). Last year my house church volunteered here on Friday nights for their "Glo" program. Glo is basically a safe dance club for these kids. It is quite fun. There is a lot of Mt. Dew and pizza consumed. It is quite a fun time. It kind of takes me back to a time in my life of school dances & trying to figure myself out.

During the meeting, one of the directors reminded us about some of these times of our lives. She asked us to think back to that time. I can remember that middle school dance. A slow song starts up and you are talking with a boy that you really like. He is a good friend and you have several classes together and he seems to be such a nice guy. Deep inside, your stomach turns with anticipation. Is he going to ask me to dance? This is such a great song! It is one of my favorites. Oh I hope he asks me to dance... You keep talking with him, and the song gets closer to the middle. Oh the anxiety you feel. It's almost more than you can take! So as an akward 12 year old, do take matters into your own hands and risk rejection and just ask him to dance? Or do you just wait to let him make the move?

Even now, at 30, I'm waiting for an answer to that same question. What is answer? Is it really just as simple as feeling comfortable with the answer you may or may not receive? Or is it resting patiently in the response that God has in store? I'm sure there are so many differing opinions out there.

Before, I really make a decision on this, I want say something in regards to respect. This week I have really been struggling with this idea of respect. At times I have little (if any) respsect for my leaders. This can even include the One who created me. Why is this? I suppose they question isn't "Why" as I can certainly give you the easy answer of sin...I guess my question is, if I understand that this is not honoring to God or the people the lack of respect is directed at, then why can't I shake my attitude?

So this goes back to the Jr. High dance...I could ask the guy to dance, and just take matters into my own hands, but I'm not sure that is going to express any sort of respect to him. Certainly the ages of the players are different and the circumstances are more serious than just a simple dance - but if I can ever learn to fully give over control & repsect him maybe it is just as simple as waiting patiently for him to get the courage, or learning that I am the one he wants to dance with - then the wait would all be worth it. If he misses this song, there will be more if he is meant to dance with me through this life.

2 comments:

  1. Can I say I love you and not weird you out? Sometimes I think our brains are linked together :)

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  2. Oh, and I'm really excited about the PowerHouse!!

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