On http://chuckleindarkness.blogspot.com/2007/08/gifts.html, Joan B. reminds us of the verse: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” I Corinthians 12:4-6
I need to try to memorize this verse. People think that because I work with computers, I must be smarter than them.  So I tell people all the time: “I only know this because I’ve been working with computers for a long time. There are things that you know about your job that I wouldn’t understand. You’re really smart, too, about the things you’ve worked with for a long time.”
But I *NEED* to believe that I am not smarter - just that we have different gifts and life experiences. I need to believe this when I am trying to walk someone through instructions. (They make sense to me not because I am smarter, but because I’ve had other experiences which make them relevant to me.) I need to believe this when I am trying to understand what they are so upset about. (I may not realize the urgency and stress of the business they do.) I need to believe this when the words they use to report a problem don’t make sense to me. (What does he mean, his tube is down? Is his monitor dead? His connection lost? His account locked out? Smoke coming out of his PC tower? Come on, people, give me something to work with here!)
I also need to really ‘get’ this verse when I am jealous of my family and friends who seem to have so much more personal impact with the jobs/hobbies they do: ministry, teaching, child care, coaching. (I’ve already been around the mountain enough to know that God wants me where I am - at least for now. So I can’t change my job.) I need to remember that it isn’t WHAT I do, but the Spirit *with* which I *Serve*. I’ll rephrase that to clarify what I’m reading into it: I need to do what I do as a SERVICE (a service to God), and to do it WITH the Spirit (mindset) of Service (serving others, a ministry of a different kind), and also to have God the Spirit WITH me (for guidance, protection, to influence my mindset).

On my way home yesterday, my usually ad-free (or at least sparse) Christian radio station was peppered with ads for Vacation Bible Schools, Youth Conferences, and multi-band music events. I remember the excitement of the times we went to those things as kids. A lot of growth happens there…but it is often not at the times it is planned for. I recall that it was the times between the speakers, after lights out, and in the bus on the way home that we did the most thinking about what had been presented.

Some people think they have to entertain kids 24/7 (or at least while they’re awake). Every moment should be planned out so that the kids never get bored. Conferences should be filled to the brim so that people feel they’ve gotten their money’s worth. But kids need time to ruminate on what they’ve heard, and to internalize it. Kids and teens can dig deep, and can BE deep. They don’t always know how to express it, but they feel the spirit within them and they form beliefs and foundations, and they wrestle with engimas and contradictions. But, they need time away from the distraction of something new every moment in order to do these things.

I remember one youth group night when I was leading, that I gave everyone a set of 5 questions and told them to find a spot where they couldn’t see each other and answer them. No one would have to share their answers. Otherwise rought-and-tumble teenage boys can be awfully insightful, I learned!

 So, I encourage those of you planning these events to PLAN alone time. Structure it, if you have to. But include it. It could be the most meaningful part of your event.