To linger

I drove up around 2 not really knowing how this would go. It was the Friday before Thanksgiving and I wanted to see some beauty so I invited her to go to the bluffs with me. She got in the car and we set off. I wasn’t sure how this would go, would we have things to talk about, would she enjoy just exploring with me? This could last a total of 10 mins or who knows maybe even an hour.

As we approached the store line we dipped our hands into the cool water. As the waves lapped up onto the beach I was reminded of what waves explain to me so well, grace! Constant, over and over again a steady stream, of grace. Do I share this? Hey T, I started do you know what waves remind me of? She looked up and waited for me to continue. I took my hand and make a mark in the sand quickly before the wave came and running over it returned it to its smooth surface. Grace, I said. That mark is like our sin but God’s grace comes and washes over it with power. She took her hand and slowly began to mark her own marks as if experimenting to see if in deed the wave would wash it away.

This 14 year old girl shared about school, about the boy who got stabbed and died the week before from her school. She talked about her grandparents and family and all the things she hasn’t done and wants to do. We sat on rocks and watched the waves discussing boats and the color of the water and lake Ontario, over an hour past as we sat and talked.

Noticing the high cliffs surrounding the beach she asked what was up there and so we drove up and around to the top of the bluffs we were admired the view. T stood in wonder soaking it in than she sat with her feet over the end and just breathed it all in. I settled down beside her as she made comments of the view and how she could look at it all day and the wind how good it felt. I was in wonder! Yes, I fully agree but for this 14 year old to embrace and love it? There was no wifi, no phone, no peers and here she sat fully soaking up the sun, the view, the wind and the beauty of God.

We headed back to the community to meet with other grade 9’s who were applying to be volunteers in the afterschool program. I thought it would be a quick process of handing out some forms but instead T and her friend lingered for a couple hours. Feeling nervous about filling in an application and not being very strong in writing we sat together, me explaining the form, they giving me the answers. Me writing their answers out on a paper, they rewriting what I wrote onto the form, 

Once this was finished they asked if I could give them a ride to McDonalds so off to McDonalds we went, we order our own food and sat in the kiddy play area talking about school and life. Once another hour had passed I drove them back home and headed home myself. Overwhelmed in joy of what had just happened.

It amazes me the way these youth desire to just be in someone presence. To linger and to be cared for in the simplest of ways and yet so often my heart is fearful of their moments not knowing how they will respond, not always knowing where they are at, yet what I am learning is rather than trying to figure it all out first just making myself available for these moments as they arise!