Nostalgic

I've been nostalgic this week. When I was in junior high and high school, I participated every first week of summer in the Arlington/Mansfield area with Arlington Work Camp. This is three days of painting and scraping homes for people who are physically unable or financially unable. In my six years of youth ministry in Arlington I was able to participate further. Last summer was the 15th year of AWC. I only missed one year of those until this year.

Now, it doesn't make a whole lot sense. It never has. Teens pay money to go and work. They work in tremendous heat for other people. But every year the area youth groups have a total of 220 teenagers plus adults. Wow. Logic doesn't have anything to do with it.

What would you assume or even come to expect someone to do with their first full week of summer? Sleep. Play. Whatever. But these teens pay money so they can go out and serve. Simply serve. Simply share Jesus with homeowners, families, communities and and everyone who drives by. Serve. It's something that goes against expectations and logic. So why do it? Because it's work for Jesus.

When do we grow up and decide that work is about us? When do we decide that what we strive for and where we put our efforts must benefit us? One (of hundreds) thing I learned in my 14 of 16 years of Work Camp is that my efforts are about Christ or they are about me. When these teens go out in 16 different groups and show up at houses and start transforming that home, they are not doing it because they were told, they are not doing it because there is a pay check, they are not doing it because it looks good on a college application; they are doing it because they are sharing, worshiping and living for Jesus Christ.

Being a part of Arlington Work Camp has been nothing but a blessing in my life. I was reminded every summer that my actions and works are for my King. What I do and how I act and react are all for my Lord. Though I wasn't there psychically this week I was still reminded of these great truths. I pray that every first week of summer I get a little nostalgic and more so I pray that I live against the logic of this world and serve.