Monday, March 9, 2009 - Youth Group Last Night
or, I Never Thought I'd Be So Happy To Be Called Schizophrenic
Greetings, Earthlings! Sorry I haven't posted in so long - I haven't forgotten, I've just been busy and didn't think I had anything blogworthy. Those of you who still check my homeschoolblogger.com blog, kudos.
Anyway. Youth group last night. It's a temporary youth group, with several kids from outside our church who I didn't used to know. Temporary, because it's an eight-week thing call Discipleship Explored, which is quite good, really, and I've been helped by it.
But I must admit, I always look forward the fellowship, probably even more than the bible study (to my shame - I'm not sure I can help it, but I'll try to work on it). At the moment, it's my one regularly-occurring chance to just spend time with people in my age group. I mean, adults are all very well, but grown men are rarely half as amusing as teenage guys, especially when they've had sugar. :)
So this last week was the seventh lesson (next week is the last, and I don't know when I'll see some of these people after that, which is rather sad). Before each lesson we have some time for fellowship, during which the boys usually play basketball outside and the girls play a quiet game inside. Pause for amusement at this segregation. Yesterday, though, was beautiful, with spring-like weather and gorgeous stiff breeze (I love wind), and everyone was getting over or had recently got over a nasty illness (which I'd had too - it wasn't pleasant), so the girls stayed outside to watch Caleb and Harrison - and later Peter - play basket soccer. (My father came up with this name. It's where you try to kick and head-butt a soccer ball to get it through a basketball hoop. And maybe you get points if you can hit a car, though this is unconfirmed. And maybe you can use your hands if you want. The rules seem rather fluid.) It was very amusing. I got hit with the ball once and, as it didn't hurt much or long and they made their second basket soon after I felt as if I had contributed. :)
We played Knockout (not as violent as it sounds), except a couple of the girls, and I was naturally knocked out on my first try. I'm really not that athletic. Really. Brian and Deanna arrived and Colby appeared from wherever he'd been, probably with Calvin (who, along with Caroline, was still sick). Deanna and Colby played basketball a little while, which was also amusing. Caroline was outside in a hammock (she and Calvin were supposed to stay away from the rest of us most of the time, since they were still sick) and i talked to her for a few minutes before going inside for the Bible study.
I enjoyed myself very much because I felt as though we had all pulled together, Not just the girls with the girls and the guys with the guys, but all of us together.
Discipleship Explored is a study of the book of Philippians. This lesson was on Phi. 4: 2-9 and concentrated on rejoicing in the Lord. But in the discussion, as in all good discussions, one thing led to another (well, we were led by the questions, I suppose) and we were talking about how to replace bad thoughts with good ones. Piping up, I said that I often just tell certain thoughts to shut up. The pastor (who's been doing a good job of leading the study) asked if that works. I answered "Sometimes." Then the pastor asked how that works... and who was talking to mind (or something like that). Then Caleb spoke up and simply said "Schizophrenic." I was so happy, but I managed to laugh and say "Yeah."
Why was I happy, you might ask? Because I think that was Caleb's way of showing he has accepted me. I think Colby and Harrison might also have accepted me. Raquel, if she's reading this, knows how hard it would have been for me four years ago to even think about talking to people I barely know, let alone a boy! :) Even now, it's not easy, especially when the guys and girls separate into their own groups. But somehow, this time, I managed to break through the barrier.
I guess, in a way, it's not a big difference, since I may have moved from, "Oh, yeah, her" to "Oh! Yeah, her." But to me it's kinda monumental. So I am happy to be called schizophrenic. I hope you now see why, and weren't befuddled my muddled mind. And weren't bored by my long, boring post about a bible study you didn't go to, and people you don't know. :) Kudos to those who endured to the end. Sorry I didn't have a big finish for you.
A quick anecdote, though. Since we'd all been sick, every so often someone would cough, and when someone said something funny, well, everyone coughed instead of laughing. But I guess you had to be there. :)
Be well. Don't get the illness I had. *shudder* Until next time - and I'll try to not make it so long until the next post.
