The thankyou

Thankyou for reading this.

I find it incredible how such a simple thing can change your entire point of view.  How everything in the world suddenly becomes OK just by someone saying thankyou for your efforts.

One of the boys I lead endeavours to say thankyou to me at the end of the night.  Well most of the time.  For instance if the programme went badly at the youth group he may just skip the thanks.  However I generally get those words from him that mean more than he can know.  When he doesn't it's a clear indicator that the night did not work and most of the time I've already noticed but his confirmation means it all and only makes me cherish the days I get it right even more.  How would you ever notice the good times if there were no bad times.

It turns out that one of the parents has even noticed the difference by just saying thanks.  I received an extra thanks, partly forced but nonetheless an extra from her son.  Obviously my face betrays my love of such a simple remark to set me at ease, even for a short while.

So my point is simple.

When you receive a thankyou, congratulate yourself on a job well done

When you get something week after week keep saying thanks.  You may not know the difference you're making in that persons life.

Finally, consider your life.  The things you've had, the friends and the moments.  Perhaps It's time to start thanking God for all He's doing in your life.  It means so much to us, how much more does it mean to God who does so much in your life.

 

The return of structure

Having worked as part of a structured Youth group for a fair few years now I've seen the difference that can come of such work.  I even ended up speaking to a local chaplain who was of the opinion that such work is increasing and the call for it is growing as people have begun to notice the implications of a far too liberal upbringing.  To further explain such a point i'll refer you to the video below from TED.com on the very same subject.

Oranges & sunshine

Our world has so many flaws.  The people, so many vices.  I have so many vices.  But sometimes it still amazes you to see the damage that can be done from one to another.

In this case I'm talking of the film 'Oranges & sunshine'.  Which documents the struggle for a social worker to come to terms with, and deal with the mass migrations of children to Australia.  This being done without consent of parents, in fact the children were, in some cases, told that their parents had died!

Once in Australia few dreams of Oranges and sunshine were realised.  Many were sent to places where they were used as labour.  In some cases abused in the most vile forms.  Then they were ignored.

Our government, and the charities who supported the work, hid the migrations from sight.  They pretended it had never happened.  It took years of work to find parents, names, anything to help the lost children of our empire.  23 years before the government even admitted it had happened!

The truth behind human sin is infinite.  We treat each other like dirt.  We take a step up by pushing each other down, revelling in it.  We've made it all too easy to bypass the truth and come out smelling of roses.  The little we do for others is considered enough.

I ask you now to strive for the best.  Normal is not good enough.  You can always do more and what you give will surely be given back to you with interest by He who we call God.  For we shall all face troubles,  but God is with us.

Finally, Human nature is to learn.  Let us move forward, let us forgive, but let us set things right.  We are all in God's Kingdom, we are all brothers.  Live like you mean it!  And love one another.

For the few or for the many

"Sacrifice the few to save the many"

I was speaking to my captain the other day in terms of the numbers in our sections and the like in the calm after the storm.  We sat talking with the other officers after the company night as to how to go forward in the new year.  However something my captain said bugged me.

" Some kids are great to have in the group, but as much as we try to keep these kids, they will eventually give up."  Referring to the odd kids, the loners so to say.  Imaginative, artistic and highly creative are often major characteristics.  Sport on the other hand is not.  So when it comes to games which the others enjoy greatly, these ones often sit on the sidelines.

Of course when running the games you are often stuck to almost ignore the one.  I struggle with this concept.  When I'm not running an activity i make it my duty to encourage those whom sit aside.  The answers from them often being, "i'm no good at sports", or in some rare cases "i like it but i just want to sit out".  (Some kids really confuse me).

So unless another officer does the duty of talking to these kids I can do but shout encouragement in between running things, a task that is often unsuccessful.  I have rarely seen another officer do so, they've often tried and given up.

Sometimes you even make headway with a child, who then leaves without word. Somewhat soul destroying.

So my thoughts lie with the singular statement above.  Is it worth more to run our activities for the many, or try to do so for the few at the risk of losing the others?

Sadly, my captain may have wisdom I'm too stubborn to accept.  How about you?

Fill-in Games: Elevens

Another one for the younger lot.

Equipment:
       None!

Setup:
 Get all the kids sitting on the floor in a circle, legs pointing inwards.

The Game:

Starting with one foot the kids count to eleven for each foot.  I.e. first kid taps right foot on floor and says 1, then 2 on the left and round the circle.

The kid who is unlucky enough to be 11 takes that foot out of the game then starts with the next foot from 1 again.

That's it!!!

The winner is the person with the last foot in wins.

No idea why this game is fun but they enjoy it!

Expanding the game.

I must admit this is drawn from a more adult version with beverages but it is the natural extension. My friends would call it 21 and the same principle, but you can each say upto 3 numbers.  The person that says 21 is still in but chooses a new rule for the game.  I.e. miss 8 or make a noise instead of 12, a sign or the like.  Pretty much anything goes within reason.  This is more suited to teenagers.  Of course the target switches to wanting to say 21 to make up a rule often.  If you fail to do the right thing however you loose a life and the numbers start again with till 21 is reached and a new rule is created or someone else makes a mistake.