Different

This year's YouthWorks! theme is be different. It's based on Luke 6:27-28: "but to those who are listening, I say: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you and pray for those who hurt you." Today in devotions, we spent time reflecting on how we would react differently -- with more patience, compassion, boldness or love -- when put in difficult situations at our ministry sites. There is a significant homeless population in Kansas City. At some of the intersections near our church it's not uncommon to see someone begging at every corner. But instead of looking (or driving) the other way, this morning one of our crews decided to react differently by bringing along the leftover packages of muffins and bottles of juice from our Sunday morning breakfast so we could hand them out on the way to the worksite. It took us several trips (and a few u-turns) around the boulevard to reach everyone. The kids felt great about giving a (reasonably) healthy meal out to someone in need ... and then were sobered by the thought that it might be that person's only meal of the day or the rest of the week. Being different isn't easy ... but it is being faithful.