The teen service week can be described in many ways but quiet was rarely one of them. Yet throughout the week I was blessed to catch glimpses of God in the work of these exuberant teenagers. In the kindness of strangers, in the songs of “tough” young men, and in the almost whisper of a boisterous 17 year-old, God moved in a mighty way through the Family Promise Day Center.
One of the first quiet moments I got to see was an interaction between our visiting youth group and children at the Lawrence Community Shelter. As we entered the family area of the shelter the moms were appreciative of our helping with child care, but also cautioned us that these kids were a handful! The moms left and the youth got to work intentionally playing with each child, calling them by name, complimenting their work, and caring deeply for these little people they had just met! It was not chaos and the kids were not a handful , they simply drank in every drop of attention lavished upon them. As they got ready to leave the quiet moment ended with rowdy pleas to stay and play. In that little quiet moment of being in intentional community with these kids that had so little in common with them, they had allowed me to glimpse a sacred space where God was very much at work.
The next day I went up to the sweltering attic where the teenagers were toiling away, to let them know that lunch was ready. This resulted in a thunderous stampede down the stairs but four teenage guys stayed behind. The music was still going and they were intent on completing their task. The radio was still blaring in the suddenly almost empty room, and a quiet powerful song of faith came on. All these athletic, teenage guys mentioned how much they loved the song and began to sing. They were quietly singing away as they finished the Bible verses they imprinted on the wall.
Finally the week had come to an end. Thursday afternoon Dana, Kendra, and I walked through the upstairs truly astounded by the amazing work of such an incredible group of teens. We were about to pray in the quiet heat of the newly renovated attic and two of our young guests came to the top of the stairs. We invited them to join us in prayer. After praying over the space, we took just another moment to appreciate all the work, and an admittedly temperamental teenage girl said as she gazed around “I’m gonna miss my family, you know this family.”
As I sat at home exhausted and overwhelmed with joy and blessings, I was thinking about the various ways that God speaks to us. I recalled the story of Elijah listening in vain for God in the thundering wind, earthquake, and fire. Finally in gentle whisper the Lord passed before Elijah. I know that this week God was indeed present in the rushing wind of teenage enthusiasm that swept over us. Yet I am particularly grateful for the gentle whispering reminder of God’s mighty presence moving, living, and breathing through this house.
Quiet – by Becky Peters
