So there I am, sitting right in the middle of a wonderful, local, frozen yogurt shop, playing spoons after the big game last night. We were meeting there instead of our normal meeting because of the Superbowl. Eventually we ended up taking over the entire space, playing some hard-fought spoons. In fact, there were only 3 other people in the shop: three high school girls doing homework over in the corner.
Now the norm in youth ministry would be for me to offer an invitation to join us at spoons:
"Hey girls! Girls! You wanna play some spoons," I said (this sounded much less creepy there).
"No thanks, I have homework," said one of them.
"What are you working on? I'll help," I said as I ran over to the corner.
I glanced down at the work and noticed it was Geography, and that she was doing just fine. We joked about doing homework for a bit, and then saw the other girl pushing her book at me, "Not unless you know how to do geometry," she huffed in frustration.
Ok, so at this point there are a few things you need to know. First, I've been teaching Algebra and Geometry for 5 years. Second, I am not a psycho. Third, God puts us in some wonderful spots to make a difference wherever we find ourselves.
"As it happens, I taught geometry for years," I said. I saw her eyebrows shoot towards the heavens as I pulled up a chair. As we started my one-on-one tutoring about lines, slope-intercept formulas, and opposite-inverses, I suddenly hear the other girl on a cellphone.
"She's busy. She's getting help on her homework." Pause. "Some guy." Longer pause. "No, he is not a psycho!"
So at this point, I realize that this girl's mom is on the phone, worried that her daughter is in league with a "psycho" who is apparently teaching her daughter geometry. What should I do?
"Don't worry, I'm not a psycho, I'm just a youth pastor at Bethany. I am background checked many times, and I've been a teacher and Vice Principal! And my wife teaches too!"
What a weird meeting in the middle of frozen yogurt delight! God does move in mysterious ways! We ended up talking to the girls for a bit after the lesson was done. And knowing mom's concerns, I gave my full name and phone number to the girls so that mom(s) could check in with me. I'm not so much expecting a phone call, as a visit from the authorities! I love the psychotic nature of youth ministry!
THIS JUST IN:
Mom texted me this morning to thank me, and to confirm, once and for all, that I am not a psycho! Good news, I'm not!
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