Track Meet

A lot of people wander what comes with an undergrad degree in Youth Ministry.

I like to think it is the training.

To sit at the feet of people like Robert Oglesby, Randy Harris and David Fraze and just soak up the advise and wisdom of their experience and knowledge. Once you leave the program, you feel prepared to handle nearly anything. Until it happens to you...
One event occured tonight.

I was always prepared to recieve the late-night phone call and once it happened I had no clue what to do. The situation was that a parent had called me and was desperate to find help with a child that had become threatening and even suicidal. He was literally holding the child down while on the phone with me.

I called our Sr. Minister, Joel Quile, who had recieved the call as well. We drove to the house unexpectant at what we would find. I realized in the car that I was not only unprepared for what would happen but realized that I am not qualified for such a situation! "No! Call someone that knows what they are doing!" was a thought that ran through my head on several occasions. After we found out the son had left the house, we tracked him down on foot - that became a foot race - and after finally catching up, we had our intervention; on a track. Literally, on a track that surrounded the football field. Did I mention that jumping fences was involved?
Joel said it best that "there is no script for these things" and now I could not agree more. If there was ever a time that you ask God to "get you out of the way" this was it. God works in mysterious ways...not to mention mysterious places.

Earlier while I was in mid-stride on the phone with Joel in mid-stride, he told me to ask the father (whom I was with) if he had a weapon. I felt odd asking a man well qualified (trust me) if he had a weapon, then I hear Joel laughing through the phone and clarifying that he wanted me to ask the father if the son had a weapon. I felt silly, then scared to think if I had to encounter that kind of scenario. Then as Joel hung up, he said something to the effect of "just in case you have to tackle him." "WHAT!?!?!"

Joel, dude, I have never been more proud of the way you handled that situation.

I ask that you send a prayer up for healing for this family. Just say a quick prayer that God will fill the house will love, healing, trust, wisdom and discernment. He will know who you are talking about even if you don't.

You may never be qualified (by your standards) for the moment or the path in which God calls you to lead. The important thing is that you answer the call (again, literally for me tonight) and "get out of the way" to let God work.

It was a relay race to be sure. We each had a different role in the situation tonight. In the book of Hebrews it says, "Let us run with persevierance the race marked out for us." Ironic we had a track meet tonight. I didn't even have a chance to stretch...I think I pulled a hamstring!

M@