I’d often find him playing beside the back porch or under the deck around the ugly above-ground pool that took up most of the backyard where we lived in Toledo. He would sneak in around the bushes and over the wire fence in the back. The gate and wooden fences to the front didn’t stop him. I don’t remember how often I shared my meals with him or tried to engage him in conversation. He was broken goods; the spent product of an explosive family where love had lost to anger and manipulation, sanity to drugs and fear. I think he was about 11 or 12. After his dad left and his brother was sent to prison for abusing his mom, he stopped coming around.
I had forgotten about him until last Wednesday. We had our last Ministerial Formation group meeting at the Original Pancake House and while waiting for everyone to show up, my friend from Cleveland asked about the children in my life. I am used to saying we have no kids, but he then said ‘You surely influenced some along the way.’ That thin gaunt face came across my mind and I remembered. I wonder where he is now.
I don’t have any kids, I have never been a teacher and I have spent many Mother’s Days wondering why God – why did we not have a family. Lately though, I have had this unexplainable desire to work with youth. It started with the amazing young adults at General Conference and my refreshingly supercharged roommate for the week. Then I awoke one morning with this idea for blending my passion for spiritual growth and my need to help others avoid the painful path I walked. I had a leadership class project requirement, so I set the plan to paper and PowerPoint.
I wish I could say my presentation was a success. I failed on many points, including a claim that I said OK 46 times (?), but I received great insight into what needed to be changed. I also failed to excite the leaders in my church when given the chance by our Senior Pastor to present the idea. But, that has only made me more determined to try again. I truly feel the need to stop the senseless wasting of the fertile minds of the next generation – “to seek and save what was lost” (Luke 19:10).
It is often in the small things that we really make a difference. Many we would probably never realize if asked, but to someone else that could be the pivotal point. That’s what makes it so important to be open to God’s will and seeking the opportunities to serve.
I have not given this blog the attention I promised, but hope to increase my attention from this point forward. I would love to hear your thoughts.
posted by Darcy
Faith Venture 
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