My 14-year-old son was investigating the music I had downloaded onto my iPod. Some he thought were sweet. But some were, in his opinion, pretty lame. After listening to the Simon and Garfunkel hit “The 59th Street Bridge Song” (most Baby Boomers think the song title is “Feeling Groovy”), he asked, “Were they on drugs when they wrote that song?” Yet as corny as the song is, youth ministry workers need to listen to its message.
Slow down, you move too fast.
You got to make the morning last.
Just kicking down the cobblestones.
Looking for fun and feelin’ groovy.
In the 11th chapter of Luke’s Gospel we encounter two women from Bethany, Lazarus’ sisters Mary and Martha. All three times Mary, the introvert, is mentioned in the New Testament, she is described as at the feet of Jesus. On the other hand, Martha, the extrovert, is scurrying around like an ADHD pre-teen, cooking up the potluck supper for Jesus.
Are you more like Mary or more like Martha? Perhaps a combo of the two?
Several years ago, I was on an airplane spending some time in prayer. I believe God was asking me, “What are you doing in youth ministry for introverts? Why are you so busy? Why don’t you slow down? Why don’t you focus on being as opposed to doing?”
We as youth workers are too busy. We are so busy that often we neglect what I like to call the infrastructure of prayer. We spend so much time preparing programs and a plethora of details that we sometimes neglect to spend time preparing our hearts to connect with Jesus.
Our youth are too busy—too stinkin’ busy. Our parents of youth have bought into the lie that if we just keep kids busy they won’t drink, they won’t have sex, they won’t get in trouble.
I believe that one of the reasons attendance at church and youth ministry events is suffering is because parents have their children on activity overload.
They’re over-programmed with travel soccer, SAT prep, dance lessons, sports, extracurricular activities, various competitive athletics, voice lessons … and did I mention sports? Then the parents bring them to church or parachurch ministries so that students can participate in karate for Christ, bowling for blessings and jogging for Jesus.
Recently, I was in Antiqua, Guatemala, on a retreat with other speakers and contemporary Christian musicians. Our speaker, Mark Yaconelli, challenged the audience with a simple truth. (See page 38 for more of Yaconelli’s thoughts.)
“Isn’t it interesting that the commandment to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy is listed with ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ etc? … We wouldn’t think about murder; but are we remembering to take a Sabbath, to even take a day off from work?” he said.
Are you too busy? Even doing good stuff?
I live in a small-but-growing town in northern Delaware. Our population has doubled in the last five years, and it will triple again in the next 10 years. However, we don’t have the proper infrastructure in our town to support the growth, so we’re going to face some challenges soon.
Do you have the proper infrastructure of spiritual disciplines in your life and ministry to slow down and be like Mary of Bethany, to sit at the feet of Jesus?
I have a spiritual challenge for your soul: Slow down and take a day off. And during that day spend ample time with the One who created you. God wants to hang out with you. Focus on being, not doing.
I know it’s hard, but if you’ll slow down and not move too fast, you may experience the peace and rest of “feeling groovy.”
David Burke is a speaker, writer, and consultant who works with youth and adults. He is the co-founder of Youth Ministry Coaches (www.youthmincoaches.com).
