Reflections From a Plane

A reflection on A Brand New Way conference and the scripture readings for Sunday September 21, 2008.

This reflection was inspired by The Rev'd Lucas Grubbs who preached an inspiring sermon during our Sunday morning Eucharist. As with all great sermons this one did exactly what it should do - made those who heard it think. I'd like to thank Lucas for helping us remember why it is we do what we do.

The Gospel for today is a very familiar story. It is a story we have come to recognize by its biting ending - "The last shall be first and the first shall be last". It is a story that is, by our definition of the word, unfair. Some of the workers out in a full days work. They bare the heat of the day, the burden of the day. For their work they receive the standard day's wage. However, there are those workers who show up for the very last hour of work. When the day is done, they too receive the standard day's wage. It just isn't fair. As we were reminded in the sermon during our Eucharistic celebration this is the same situation that we find in the midst of young adult ministry. Some have been working and struggling to grow this ministry for many years, others are just beginning. But, in the end we are all left with the same Church - the same pay check if you will. As I listened to more and more stories from my fellow young adult ministers, I heard stories of triumph and tragedy. Stories of great success and failure. Young Adult Ministry as a whole is a lot like those laborers. We as young adults in the church, at times, must work twice as hard as our older counterparts to receive the same result - to be taken just as seriously. It is a difficult and challenging thing, but we must endure.

St. Paul understands very well the idea of struggling for his ministry. In his letter to the Philippians Paul describes his struggle with staying here on earth or moving on to eternal glory with Christ. Paul is a man who understands the struggle of ministry. As we were reminded in small group conversations Paul was a man who wrote some of his letters from Prison.

Jesus himself greatly understood the struggles and suffering that at times comes along with having an active ministry. He worked with his hands to tend the vines and to plant new ones - just as we are called to do. And friends, I remind you that Jesus WAS a young adult!

We must continue, despite the struggle, to tend the vines. If we give up the old vines will wither and die. If we only focus on the old vines, they will, despite our best efforts, die. Therefore we must continue to tend the old vines and plant new ones. We must continue to nature and support our existing efforts and successful ministries while lifting up those who are just joining and starting new one.

In conversation after conversation, I was reminded of the struggle, the creativity, the triumph and failure that comes along with being a Young Adult minister. We must endure no matter what the cost, continuing to be creative, continuing to foster new and exciting ministries that bring more people to the church, the church to more people, and the Gospel to all the world.

Don't give up when people put you down because you are young. Instead continue to set an example in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. Don't give up on your Church, continue to push forward in ministry. Because one day the church WILL catch up.