The the impotence of Youth Ministers

Youth ministers are important for the following reasons:

1. They pretend to like you, when even you know that you're being annoying the the utmost degree.

2. They tell you all the reasons you are wrong, and why they are right.

3. They provide free food.

4. Well...

Really though, I don't know if there is any position so important as that of a youth minister. It's that person on whom you can unload who isn't your mom (whom you currently loathe) or best friend (whom you're secretly mad at). It's that voice of reason. It's that ability to joke(soft j) when nothing's funny. It's the never ending stories. And yes, it's that random meal that reminds you that you've got at least one friend in this lonely world. Life in high school, well, sucks, and I know tons of kids who would have benefitted from the kind of relationship with which I was blessed. And yeah, maybe I've depended on my own youth minister more than necessary, but I truly believe that my life would be extremely different without my external conscience and sparring partner.

You never believe it when they tell you that one person can change the world. But the very employment of a youth minister is to take the pieces of kids' shattered worlds and somehow put them back together...and then convince them that it'll be all right even if the glue doesn't hold. No one is more trusted; no one works so hard; no one means so much. And frankly, no one realizes it so little. I think youth ministers are so vastly under-appreciated that they fail to appreciate themselves. It's so easy to focus on the ones lost. It's so natural to see the things they couldn't help. But think, then, of all they do--all that we would never think to realize or ask about or sympathize. Crazy shit happens in kids' lives on a daily basis, and the front line of defense? Who else. It's harder than I could ever imagine. Trust me, I've thought about it and I'm literally baffled. But what a blessing. What a joy to share the good news. What a power to make a real and lasting difference. What profound sorrow, but what overpowering gladness.

Some people look up to fire fighters. Some think the president's the bee's knees. Some want to be just like MJ. It might be cheesy and it might be lame, but when it comes to heroes, mine's my youth minister. I see none greater than those who support and love God's children, and I am awed literally every day by the amazing actions of these people. God's work is being done. The joy of Jesus is being spread to those who need to hear it most.

So thanks, guys. You rock. For real.