reflections of a sleep deprived Youth Director

First off let me say that at any age about say -- 25 yrs -- one is seriously getting too old to stay up all night long with a group of kids. But, I love it and although I am whipped off my butt right now, there is an adrenaline inside of me that is ready to go again.

So, last night some of my high school youth wanted an all night movie fest. Being Halloween night, I knew it would only be a handful, so I figured why not. We set in for a night of cheesy "scary" movies and way too much sugar to be legal and just a goofy time.

It always amazes me what throwing a group of kids that sorta get along together, may not hang out together at school and who occasionally HATE each other do when they are sleep deprived and full of sugar and laughter. As I travel through this journey of BEing, I really have started watching people BE even if they don't realize it.

You have the group of people that is so comfortable in their own skin that it comes naturally. These people may or may not have interpersonal relationships with others they are with but still just are being "them" and that is fine. It is interesting to watch these people especially in a high school setting because they really have others in the group who want what they have -- not because they are so much cooler or better looking but because really they don't stress and have let go of inhibitions (even though they usually don't know it).

Then you have the group of people who has hurts. They are not sure of what directional path to be on. They want to have what group A has but they are really looking for it. If this group of people allows themselves, puts aside the hurts, the unsure things that are keeping them from BEing then they really can start to see, even if only for a night that life is good. If they can continue and keep it up, who knows, they might just really start BEing.

Group C is alot like Group B. They have been group A. They really did it very well. They enjoyed being natural and in their own skin. Some outside stimulus has shattered that comfort. Something somewhere has made them question BEing. It's these people who are reaching for that BEing again. They don't like the questions, they don't like the noise. They want the normalcy back that comes with enjoying BEing.

And then our final group, Group D. This is a group that is so desperately searching to be comfortable. They want what everyone else has. They really have no idea how to get it. These people usually are the younger ones, the ones who just want to fit in. Often times they have to live up to the expectations of a sibling in the group or one that has moved on from the group. There is nothing worse than being ___'s little brother or ____'s little sister. I was an older sibling. I think I experienced every group in high school except this one. This group of people has so much to do and live up to that they have the hardest time just BEing.

High School youth are funny people. They can hate each other one minute. The next minute when they forget they are supposed to hate each other -- it is that moment that they really can just BE. They break down all the walls between one another, all of the outer shells and masks that keep them from really just BEing. It is an awesome sight to watch, even if it does happen at 3 am after a ton of soda and pixie sticks. The little idiosyncracies are still there. They will always have the little picks and jabs that are so classic amongst high school youth. Watching those walls break down is harmony. You can actually see their spirits singing for whatever it was missing. Watching a group of spirits connect and just BE together is just really cool.

SO, who knows what will become of the events of the lock in last night. I will definitely be detoxing from way too much soda, not enough water and severely unhealthy food. And perhaps this group of wonderful young people will never find the harmony they lived in last night, but maybe just maybe they will realize that just BEing together is great. And maybe that will help them draw more to just BE too.

AMEN