The Unexpected

Monday, June 11^th a man named Joe came to speak to our Sidewalks community.  One idea he emphasized that really stuck with me was this: that when we interact with the people we are serving and working with, we must be quick to listen and slow to speak.  Our interactions should not immediately jump to, “Hi my name is Joe, have you met Jesus?”  Instead, we should inquire about their life.  So, with this in mind, I would like to tell a story of something unexpected that happened to me.  

I’m working at a kids’ camp this summer and each day we play a lot of physical games.  Usually there are kids that don’t want to play or who get angry and sit out.  When this happens, counselors usually just try to convince them to get back in the game, myself included.  This can be effective sometimes, but it seems like Joe encourages something else.  So, we were playing kickball this past Tuesday morning when one of the kids, Dante (name changed), got angry and decided to sit out.  Seeing this I felt called to talk to him.  With Joe’s advice in mind I ran over and sat down next to him.  This is how the conversation went:

Me: What’s up man?

Dante: I just don’t feel like playing this game anymore.

Me: Why is that?

Dante: It’s just really boring.

Me: Ok.

Dante: And people get angry over stupid things that don’t matter, it’s just a game and people shouldn’t do that.

Me: Yea I know what you mean, that’s understandable.  Well I’ll see if we can switch games soon.

Dante: Yea can you ask Shane if we can? (Shane is the supervisor)

Me: Yea definitely!

(And as I get up to leave)

Dante: Thank you.

After this conversation Dante got up and continued playing the game with the hope and trust that I would do my best to change the game.  I don’t know if it was my prejudgment of this boy, or just his excellent manners that surprised me, but I just felt amazing after this conversation.  I felt like God had used me to not only speak to this boy, but to help give him a voice.  My hope that even this little experience gives him worth and lets him know that his opinions do matter.  I praise God for opportunity I had to not speak and share the gospel, but just to listen and watch God work.