As the crowd of youth filtered through the auditorium doors, I walked with them, my feet aching a bit inside my heeled boots. The "Big Room" session had just ended and the students had some free time. Teens flocked to the volleyball nets, paintball arena, and the concessions. Thirsty, I followed the high schoolers who were heading to get refreshments. On the way, I bumped into my husband chatting with a married couple we recently met. A regional youth rally had brought us here, to a local high school. The four of us, along with many other adults, were chaperones for the weekend. It had been a few years since I had been able to help out in this way, and I was excited to take part again.
"Hey Nat!", Steve welcomed me to the conversation. "We saw you up there by the stage with your fist in the air and your knees boppin," he said with a smile. Immediately I felt heat rise in my cheeks.
Chuckling, the man standing beside Steve added, "You get into that rap music, don't you?"
"Well, no..." I replied, "It's not that I'm fond of the music...I did that because I just think that it makes the girls standing up there beside me feel more comfortable, more free to get into the music and enjoy themselves." It was true. That was the reason I had pushed aside my self-consciousness and mild embarrassment. I really wanted the youth to have open hearts and minds for what the speakers and musicians had to say. I wanted them to be stretched and to grow in their faith this weekend. Hopefully, setting aside their own self-consciousness and caring less about what others thought about them would help, I thought.
The conversation turned to other topics and after a little while I excused myself to find the water I was seeking.
The following evening I entered the auditorium with our youth group. Typical format for the each "Big Room" session had been that musicians took the stage for worship and rap sessions first, followed by a speaker. This evening was no different, and as the fog machine began to give the auditorium a concert-like feel, many of the youth and adults gathered around the stage. I did as well, this time donned with my comfy tennis shoes instead of heels.
On his cue, the Christian Rap artist walked onstage to the sound of a cheering audience, their arms raised in the air. They were ready. Beats began in the background while arms and knees started bobbing. The music artist rapped about a life of following Jesus while the teens listened and moved to the beat.
I smiled to myself. They were having fun. And the music sounded good. Maybe rap wasn't so bad. Maybe I even liked it a little bit. Hmm, maybe it wasn't only for the youth that I raised my arm and bobbed along with them.
I think I must confess...after this past weekend, I think I like rap....just a little bit. :)
On Monday mornings, as most of the country wakes up groggily and heads back to their jobs, we arise and see the day as most of you view Saturdays. We love Mondays! Steve puts in time for his job at the church on Sundays and most Saturdays, so he has Mondays off. We treasure this day of the week, and are thankful to Steve for guarding it carefully. He does a great job making Monday his day of rest and his day to spend time with us. This past Monday was lots of fun. We spent time playing in the fresh air at a near-by park, and in the evening we carved pumpkins. (It was our first time for carving pumpkins as a family. Those things are tough to cut through! But what am I talking about - it was Steve who did all of that hard work!) : )
"Is this how you do it, Dad?"
At the park.
Steve and Haddie (It was a chilly day!)
We brought Meshach with and he loved it.
Haddie looked like a big pink marshmallow all dressed up in her snowsuit.
Haddie and I.
It looks really dark, but it was only 11:30 am. It was quite cloudy. There were two eagles in the trees, though you can't see them in this photo.
Seth, experimenting. He was checking to see if the reeds would float. ; )
