On Being 14

Tonight, my 14 year old had a 4 hour "party" at church with all the other 9th graders and high school guides in his Confirmation class.  The night was all about games and messes and music and messes and noise and messes and lots of movement and messes. The hours ticked my agonizingly slow as I told this boy or that boy to not hit the ceiling lights with the basketball or to not pummel the other with the nearby inflatable guitar.  The room sized jumping thing was an inside wrestling ring.  Every now and again, i called a time out to tighten up the large air tube that frequenly came detatched.  Doritos, Oreos, cookies, etc.  Tick, tick, tick.

Youth Director came down, ordered the mob upstairs and had them line up outside the sanctuary.  From there, the doors were open and all quietly proceeded into the dark, candle lit space with acoustic guitarist serenading beautiful melodies; filling the surround. 

For an hour, I took it all in.  This place I spend my Sunday mornings was transformed. My son, all of 14,  experienced  all of his world in the freedom of one night. Dancing, noise, mess, movement and then closing, completing and capping off the evening with significant matter.  The 9th grade group spread out throughout the small church, sang in the songs, reveled in the mood, praised and met their God (where ever He is in their life) and gave themselves that time to be14.

My son is growing up.  I watched him stand tall in his awkwardness and relate to the simple stories of his youth director.  I watched him in the dim light make his way up to the cross, write something down and lay it at the foot.  From the darkened corner, i watched this tall teen swagger back to his seat and continue in song with his peers.

He left this evening knowing just how much God wants a relationship with him.  He left knowing that in a matter of months, he will be confirmed in this church and with that comes the mature responsibility of knowing. 

It was cool to spend that last quiet hour watching from a distance the reception my son has to this world and to his God that is frequently fought over on those early Sunday mornings before church.