Reckless

A couple of months ago we did a middle school night that featured a giant slip-n-slide. Before the event had officially begun there were already several boys whose fingers were starting to prune-up. The boys never need much enticement to get filthy and reckless. Girls, on the other hand, usually need to be coaxed into these shenanigans. Part of my calling in life is to get teens to not take themselves so seriously. This particular night I was having a terrible time getting the girls to participate. Initially, only three or four of the girls got involved. Among them was a girl named Holly. She has been involved in our Student Ministry for about a year and has steadily gotten more connected. She was sliding with beautiful abandonment…skinned knees…dirt in the ears…blade of grass in the corner of her mouth…

This Sunday I was deeply honored to baptize Holly. She was so excited! After coming out of the water she just sat there and began to cry. She was still crying when she left the Church. It was sincere childlike reckless abandon. I think this picture is a good spiritual metaphor. Living for Jesus is meant to be joyful… exciting… dangerous… messy… reckless… alive!!! Just dive as hard and fast as you can and enjoy the ride. If you come to die in the process, then you will have found life.

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