Not all heroes wear capes. Some of us wear dress pants and nice shirts. Or sometimes jeans and nice shirts. Occasionally shorts and t-shirts. I don't have a uniform, okay? I just don't wear a cape. I'm Super DCE, and I can do anything! The acolyte hasn't shown up yet? It's Super DCE with the save, recruiting another likely young person. The sound system isn't working? Not a problem for Super DCE – I'll just shout my children's message. There's a dog loose in the parking lot? Don't worry, I'll... wait, that's my dog. That's embarrassing.
It's not all fun and games for Super DCE, despite what most people think. Just to clear the air: Super DCE does not play with kids all day long, although I would probably enjoy that. At least for a week or so. Yeah, actually, Vacation Bible School once a year is enough to play with kids all the time. Have you ever led a Vacation Bible School? Can you say exhausting?
Speaking of exhausting, have you ever been to a National Youth Gathering? Let me tell you, Super DCE rocked that last National Youth Gathering. And then, after I got home, I immediately crashed. All of that counting was a struggle. I'm not good at math, you see, and I had to count my students constantly. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve... where's Alex??
Vacation Bible Schools and National Youth Gatherings are in my call documents, but Super DCE is actually in charge of all kinds of things. I am the guardian of the basketballs, the locker of doors, the fixer of computers, the organizer of the pantry, and the maker of the Sacrament of Coffee. The Pre-K Sunday school teacher doesn't show? Super DCE steps in with a storybook and crayons. The storage closet is a mess? Super DCE takes a day to go through every. single. bottle. of paint. Why do we have 75 bottles of paint? That is beyond the grasp of even Super DCE.
It often seems like it's always Super DCE to the rescue. No matter what the problem is, I end up trying to address it. There's infighting among the leaders of the church? Super DCE to the rescue! A building project is trying to get off the ground? Super DCE to the rescue! Someone is trying to pass a flawed budget? Super DCE to the rescue!
At the end of the day, though, I know that I'm not really the rescuer. Super DCE is great, but even heroes need a hero, and not one that wears a cape. My hero wears a crown of thorns. When Super DCE loses her temper, Jesus is there. When Super DCE is tired, Jesus is there. When Super DCE is out of ideas, Jesus is there. No matter how hard I try, Super DCE can't save the whole world – and that's okay. Jesus already did.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Friday, March 3, 2017
Addendum to Learning through "Beauty and the Beast"
Hello, friends.
Near the end of my time in Tallahassee, Pastor Jay had me come up with a personal meaning statement. It is (drum roll please) "helping others find their place in God's story."
This statement has many facets to it, but the one I want to focus on tonight is the word "story." I believe two things: first, everyone has a story, and second, everyone is part of a bigger story - God's story.
Everyone has a story. As a DCE, I hear people's stories all the time. It is both the best and the worst part of my job. I hear all the happy things (I got a job; I'm dating someone) and all the sad things (My parents are divorcing; I'm depressed). No matter what your story is, part of my calling as a DCE is to respect and love you enough to listen to it.
Everyone is part of a bigger story - God's story. Yes, I hear the sad things. My story has sad things in it, too, and as a foster parent, I'm learning about the sad things more and more. But our stories, the happy and the sad, fit into the greater plan of God. I am able to look back at my life and say, "That's why God had me go through that - so I would be helpful to this person here today." Knowing that God is in control gives me a new perspective.
You may wonder why I'm writing about this tonight. I'm still thinking about the controversy surrounding the new "Beauty and the Beast." Maybe I'm biased because I've been excited about this movie for so long, but here's what I think: if I am truly called to help others find their place in God's story, I have to be willing to listen to theirs. If I reject the opportunity to listen and learn, how am I supposed to do that?
One of my favorite Bible stories is found in Matthew chapter 9. It reads,
As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he rose and followed him.
And as Jesus reclined at table in his house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.
I don't expect people who aren't Christians to act Christian. I do expect them to want to be heard, and I intend to listen to and learn from them, just as Jesus did. I'm not saying that I agree with them. I'm not saying that I'm going to change my opinions and beliefs for them. I am saying that I believe they have a story, just as all of us do, and I want to hear it. Yes, for me, part of that comes through watching movies like "Beauty and the Beast" and tv shows like "Supergirl" with values that I don't necessarily align myself with.
I don't expect the entertainment industry to act Christian. I expect them to tell the stories that matter to them. And if my goal is truly to help them find their place in God's story, I have to listen to their stories, first.
Near the end of my time in Tallahassee, Pastor Jay had me come up with a personal meaning statement. It is (drum roll please) "helping others find their place in God's story."
This statement has many facets to it, but the one I want to focus on tonight is the word "story." I believe two things: first, everyone has a story, and second, everyone is part of a bigger story - God's story.
Everyone has a story. As a DCE, I hear people's stories all the time. It is both the best and the worst part of my job. I hear all the happy things (I got a job; I'm dating someone) and all the sad things (My parents are divorcing; I'm depressed). No matter what your story is, part of my calling as a DCE is to respect and love you enough to listen to it.
Everyone is part of a bigger story - God's story. Yes, I hear the sad things. My story has sad things in it, too, and as a foster parent, I'm learning about the sad things more and more. But our stories, the happy and the sad, fit into the greater plan of God. I am able to look back at my life and say, "That's why God had me go through that - so I would be helpful to this person here today." Knowing that God is in control gives me a new perspective.
You may wonder why I'm writing about this tonight. I'm still thinking about the controversy surrounding the new "Beauty and the Beast." Maybe I'm biased because I've been excited about this movie for so long, but here's what I think: if I am truly called to help others find their place in God's story, I have to be willing to listen to theirs. If I reject the opportunity to listen and learn, how am I supposed to do that?
One of my favorite Bible stories is found in Matthew chapter 9. It reads,
As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he rose and followed him.
And as Jesus reclined at table in his house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.
I don't expect people who aren't Christians to act Christian. I do expect them to want to be heard, and I intend to listen to and learn from them, just as Jesus did. I'm not saying that I agree with them. I'm not saying that I'm going to change my opinions and beliefs for them. I am saying that I believe they have a story, just as all of us do, and I want to hear it. Yes, for me, part of that comes through watching movies like "Beauty and the Beast" and tv shows like "Supergirl" with values that I don't necessarily align myself with.
I don't expect the entertainment industry to act Christian. I expect them to tell the stories that matter to them. And if my goal is truly to help them find their place in God's story, I have to listen to their stories, first.
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Learning through "Beauty and the Beast"
Hello, friends. If there are any spelling errors in this blog, please excuse them. Someone insisted on playing fetch while I was writing.
The news came out recently that there will be an openly gay character in the new live-action "Beauty and the Beast." I know that there are many people outraged by this. They don't want to watch a movie with a gay character. They don't want their kids to be influenced by a gay character. And believe me, I get that.
I also get that the movie industry is not a Christian conservative one, and I don't expect them to echo my Christian conservative views. In fact, I expect the complete opposite - and I find that to be useful. On a day-to-day basis, I mostly interact with people who share my values. Watching movies and TV shows where the characters don't share my values gives me opportunities for learning and growth that I don't get elsewhere.
So I probably will go see "Beauty and the Beast." Will the part with the openly gay character be my favorite? No, it won't - but it will be the most educational.
The news came out recently that there will be an openly gay character in the new live-action "Beauty and the Beast." I know that there are many people outraged by this. They don't want to watch a movie with a gay character. They don't want their kids to be influenced by a gay character. And believe me, I get that.
I also get that the movie industry is not a Christian conservative one, and I don't expect them to echo my Christian conservative views. In fact, I expect the complete opposite - and I find that to be useful. On a day-to-day basis, I mostly interact with people who share my values. Watching movies and TV shows where the characters don't share my values gives me opportunities for learning and growth that I don't get elsewhere.
So I probably will go see "Beauty and the Beast." Will the part with the openly gay character be my favorite? No, it won't - but it will be the most educational.
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