Before worship this morning, thousands (thousands!) of youth
and their leaders poured into a massive room which is part of a resort lying
not far from the most southern tip of the east coast of our great continent. In
those short 30 minutes that kicked off our day today we took pictures, we sang
a silly song with silly motions, we raised our hands and voices in praise, we clapped (a room full of clapping Methodists...wow), we learned a little Korean, we debated whether
or not Jesus would Instagram his meals, and God showed up.
Special guest: God.
I could feel it, and everyone knew it. God was there in the
silly song. He was there in the handshake between a Texan and a New Yorker. He
was there in Wayne Kerr’s hair products. God was there in the divinely inspired
lesson that taught each and everyone one of us that words like “poopoo”, “Scooby Doo” and “Instagram” have a place on the tongues
of those he calls to speak his messages.
I am stunned that we are only about 10% into this adventure.
I already feel like it has been more than I could have hoped for it to be. The
presence of the Holy Spirit was palpably evident this morning and we are only
getting started!!! I feel privileged to be a part of something that has so
little to do with the here and now, yet has tremendous purpose for his eternal
glory.
Our speaker, Samuel Yun, closed us in a prayer I felt run
over my whole body this morning. He ended with this…
“…Bless us. Fill us. Change us.
This is a happy day, for we will never be the same.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
That Jesus! He loves us…and you too…FROM THIS SIDE OF
THIRTY.
Update on the trip...
If you didn’t read yesterday’s post start there…click here.
What a day yesterday! We arrived at the airport within
plenty of time for our 1:50PM flight time. Unfortunately, we quickly learned
our flight had been bumped to 4:39. (Why not 4:40? That’s nuts. 4:38 would have
at least been an even number. But
whatever.) From what we understood, the plane scheduled to carry us to Orlando had
been taken in for service, which meant we would be assigned a new aircraft. The
problem was that the second plane wouldn’t be at DFW in time for our scheduled
1:50 flight.
Knowing we had time to spare, the group made its way through
security. After reminding 30 people to jump through hoops regulated by TSA like
empty your pockets and take off your shoes, I didn’t empty my pockets! What a
dummy! Turns out my Fitbit was suspicious also. Who knew?
We set up shop near our gate with hours to spare, grabbed
lunch and began the waiting game. Cassie made a point to frequently check the
screens for flight 2291 and its status. Good news! Bumped up to 2:30! We all
breathed a sigh of relief and prayed for a small miracle for us to make it in
time for opening worship at 7…or at least the end of it. Cassie called me over
to the screen (because I’m #1 personal unpaid assistant), and said what does this
mean? Long story short…They moved our gate. No big deal…but yes big deal because
it was located at a TOTALLY DIFFERENT TERMINAL! Did I mention that there are 30
of us? So we moved (like a herd of lemon colored cattle) through terminal A, up
the escalator, on the Skylink, down the escalator, and through terminal C to
our new gate with 11 minutes to spare before boarding began.
Our new gate was C4. I never said it out load yesterday, but
am I the only one who pictures an explosion at the thought of C4?
After everyone boarded, found their seats, then switched a
few seats, we were ready. However, our plane was not. My interpretation?...the
check engine light was on in the cockpit. As if I weren’t anxious enough
already?! We eventually took off around 3:30, and I’m thrilled to report it was
a most uneventful flight… and my heart did not attack. Success!
We weren’t able to make last night’s worship service, but I’m
not so sure we had the energy to fully engage anyway. By the time Cassie and
her Assistant Numero Uno (that’s me), got everyone’s name tags passed out,
rooms assigned and found our own dinner (at 11PM!) it was almost midnight. By
the time she and I found our room, washed faces, parked our suitcase and did a
quick initiation on our poor, poor roommate Rebecca, it may have been almost
ONE A.M. when slumber came upon us.
Cass was up and at ‘em a few short hours later. So was her
hair dryer. But I needed to be up and making my way to Starbucks anyway, since
that was my first assignment of the day. And let me just tell you!!!!, the
entire company of hotel guests was there too! Long, long line, but it was so
very worth it. She and I are alike in many ways, but different in so many
other. I get my coffee “kid temperature” and she likes her “extra hot”. Physics
doesn’t really allow a person who prefers child’s temperature to be able to hold
a Starbucks cup with extremely hot coffee in it!, but I made it work. Boss lady’s
a slave driver. –We’ll talk soon! Lacy
Labels: Spiritual Growth
