It Was Worth It

Thursday was my first youth night at my new mission parish. I was excited. I built it up as much as I could. It was in the bulletin. It was on posters I had put around the parish. We handed out little calendars at CCE a couple times. I talked it up at Funday Munday, our after school hang out. And, it was on the Instagram account.

I was super excited but a little worried because I didn't have anyone saying that they would help with the night. I knew I had some former teens in town for break so I solved that problem by contacting a few and I got one to come out. It was great, we got to catch up on our 50 minute drive to Dickinson and I thanked her by buying her dinner afterwards.

We had about a 2 hour set up time. We had to tear down 12 tables, around 80 chairs, hang lights which was a pain, haul our giant Jenga set to the room from my office across campus, gather drinks, cups, plates, napkins, set up sound, and a few minor things to get ready. Once we were done we allowed ourselves 15 minutes in the adoration chapel to pray.

A friend of mine who is a youth minister called and let me know he was praying for us. He told me a quote from Bob Rice who led a retreat for youth ministers a couple weeks ago that went something like this: "When they are coming, remember you aren't that amazing. When they aren't coming, remember that you aren't that bad." well...

6:30 came. After about 10 minutes, a teen showed up. We played Jenga until 7:00. He was the only one that showed up. So we pulled some chairs in a circle and had our night. It was worth it.

It was worth it because if my former teen had't been there I would have had to send the young man away due to safe environment rules. It was worth it because I used this Sunday's first reading and gospel to talk about the authority of Jesus and his Church as well as authority figures in our lives and how well or not so well we obey. This young man tends to get into trouble a lot. This was for him . It was worth it.

Two hours of set up time. About 45 minutes of clean up time. One teen. It was worth it.