As You Are Seeking God…

I have been teaching at a local college for the last six months.  I have written about it elsewhere in this blog.  During the past half year I have learned more than I have taught.  The students are a mixed bunch that bring with them experiences that are as diverse as the cultures they represent.  The more I am around them, the greater hope I have for Christianity.

I have never been drawn to being a youth pastor.  In fact, the one thing I told God was that I DID NOT want to be around a bunch of kids because I felt as though my patience is extremely limited.  I was wrong.  It is not a matter of patience with me…it is a matter of realizing that in my heart I am still about the age of the students I teach; 18-22.  I am not ashamed of that fact.  I may be 51 years old, but I seem to be eternally stuck at a much younger age.  These students have proven this to me.  Regardless of when I die, I suspect I will always be 18-22 years old…my wife, and the rest of the staff at the college, along with my much older children, will attest to that.

These students have given me renewed hope for Christianity because they are trying hard to master a difficult curriculum AND do ministry at the same time.  Sometimes they succeed and sometimes they fail but at least they are trying.  Some will become very good pastors, teachers, missionaries, etc.  Others will simply become more knowledgeable men and women of God.  All of them will be changed in ways they never imagined.  Along the way they will help grow and change the people they come into contact with…especially me.