Hey guys. It’s me. No, not the bearded, guitar-toting one. Not the crazy one. And no, not the one who made you cry on a nightly basis during Club.
The other one.
I apologize to my fellow YouthWorks Milwaukee staff for these incriminating labels. But, uh, back to you guys.
I miss you. Each and every one of you. Yes, even you who wouldn’t stop talking during Club, or kept sneaking snacks downstairs, or insisted on disturbing your adult leaders during lights-out.
I miss all of you. So much.
Whether you rolled into Milwaukee during our first week of programming, our last, or somewhere in the middle, you know I’m not as loud or talkative as most. I internalize a lot, and now I’d like to externalize to you.
If we met at the beginning of the summer, you probably have no idea that I was deathly afraid of you. I was often convinced you’d hate me, or at least deem me unworthy of your conversations and jokes and general bonding time.
I dabbled in tutoring before the summer, but beyond that, my interactions with youth were fairly limited. I had my serious doubts, and yes, I feared you. Feared you would convince me of the lie that I’m just irrelevant.
But you didn’t fail me. Didn’t hate me. You talked to me, told me jokes, bonded with me over meals and at ministry sites and during free time. Loved me. It was technically my “job” to love you, so you really can’t fathom how much your love affected me this summer. Still impacts me today.
I wish I could teleport to where you are and see you again, whether you hail from Starbuck MN, Huntington WV, Pella IA, or somewhere in between. We could remember together how sweet and magical a place Gingerbread Land is, or play Ninja, or simply catch up over an ample taco meal (on a Tuesday, of course).
You guys told me something quite contrary to the lie I’ve often believed in my life: that I’m worth something. That I’m not utterly inept and purposeless and, well, worthless. You flooded me with worth this summer, and words could never fully express my gratefulness.
I still think of you guys all these months later. Still remember names and faces. I’m honored and blessed that God chose to share y’all with me this summer. And while teleporting is not exactly possible (yet), I find great hope in seeing you all again someday. Somewhere bright and beautiful and forever, unlike any place we could ever imagine.
Until that great day, I urge you to continue fighting the good fight. You have a story that the world needs to hear. Rely first and foremost on God as you turn the pages of your life, but don’t forget to rely on your fellow brothers and sisters too. Life is so much easier and fulfilling when done together, a huge take-away I learned from this summer.
Your natural enthusiasm for painting walls and pulling weeds and talking with lonely elderly folks still blows me away. I wish I had your enthusiasm for others while in middle school or high school. You inspired me so much this summer. Don’t lose your fire and love for others. Fan that flame often.
I’m praying for you. I pray you’re still applying what you learned and experienced in Milwaukee as you live out the stories God’s called you to live.
Thank you for changing my life this summer. Love and blessings for 2012 and beyond.
Until that next Taco Tuesday in the sky,
– Tom (Projector Guy)
