it's no secret i love my job. who wouldn't love a job that requires you to eat pizza 4 times a week... minimum! but sometimes even the best of jobs can get you down, like when someone dies.
i met with a group of 12th graders sunday, and the topic on everyone's mind was a guy named greer who had fallen off a mountain ledge, punctured his lung, and was in critical condition. i didn't know greer, since he graduated from high school before i came here, but all the kids knew him. just as we were ending our time together, the phone rang. the voice on the other end told me greer had just died, and then i turned to the kids to give them the same news. kids i'm only just getting to know. it sucked.
yet, there's something beautiful about watching a community come together to cry and laugh and be angry and remember. i didn't know greer, but i'm touched by him as i hear the kids share stories. and i'm touched by the kids, too, that they'd let me into their space during this time.
so yeah, sometimes it sucks. but even then, and especially then, i love my job.
2 comments:
For whatever reason, your post today brought to mind a quote from theologian Henri Nouwen: "The spiritual life does not remove us from the world but leads us deeper into it."
Those kids are fortunate to have someone around who understands and demonstrates the ministry of presence.
Tears in my eyes as I read your post and I don't even know your kids or their friend. They are blessed to have you help them through this tough time.
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