Off to Steubenville…San Diego!
Posted by Lisa Hendey in Faith on Friday, July 23, 2010 7:06 PM
Right about now, my teenage sons should be headed into a sports arena full of rowdy teens for three days of fun, frivolity and faith. Their destination? Steubenville San Diego.
Three years ago, Eric (the older kid) attended this conference as a relatively timid rising Sophomore. It was sort of the unofficial launch of his Confirmation preparation - his first real outing with our Life Teen group. I remember leaving him in the Church parking lot very early in the morning and driving home with a huge lump in my throat. His half-hearted hug goodbye told me all I needed to know about his attitude going into the weekend… he was “not psyched”. He didn’t know any of the kids and wasn’t sure what the weekend held in store. Fast forward a few days, and he came home transformed into a teen who would later take on a leadership role in our youth ministry. Needless to say, he had a great time.
This morning, I found myself three years later in that same parking lot, accompanied by another sulky fifteen year old. Actually, Adam wasn’t sulking - he cares about me and my feelings too much to sulk out loud in front of me when it has to do with something like going on a retreat. Again, I think his biggest fear was facing a seven hour bus ride with no electronic accompaniment (iPods and phones are banned!) and not a single friend in sight. Late yesterday, big brother came to the rescue and decided to fill an empty spot on the bus, so it turned out that I ended up dropping both boys off. Adam was rescued—and I’m actually not sure if that was for the best. It might have been good for him to have stepped out alone as Eric did the first time around. But the good thing is that they will share this experience in common—likely one of the last things they will do together before Eric heads off for college.
So now, with them unplugged, I wait. In this case, no news is good news. As I write this, the conference is just getting underway. They will hear amazing speakers and musicians. They will meet new friends. But most importantly, they will attend an event whose goal is to “connect teens to a very personal understanding of God, who came and dwelt among us that we might know His glory.”
So if you have a moment and can spare a prayer, please say a quick one for Eric and Adam, and for all of the teens attending Steubenville events this summer. They are the future of our Church - may they come to know His infinite love in their lives, and may they have a bit of fun along the way too!
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