I’m helping with my church’s VBS program this week.  I willingly volunteered.  I’m program free at WorldVenture this week; I have the time.  I thought it would be a great way to give back to this local body of believers who have embraced me and TCK ministry. It would be a great way to get to know people whose lives are intertwined with mine without many of them knowing it.

Then we had our pre-event meeting.  All my happy thoughts dissipated with mentions of costumes, and decorating spirit (as in hooray! not as in specters) sticks.  Then I looked at the curriculum and lingering joy scooted out the door quickly.  It’s well done from an entertainment standpoint.  There’s nothing heretical about it.  It just seems to me it lacks heft.

This week we’re broken into the tribes of Israel for the week.  My tribe is Dan.  That’s fine.  What doesn’t come anywhere near the “fine” mark is that our symbol is a cobra.  If you know anything about me, you know snakes have no part of my life.  I firmly believe the best snake is one that’s dead and far, far away from me.  But, no.  I get to be associated with a cobra all week.

I grumped a lot over the weekend.  I dug my heels in.  I groused.  VBS was my sore spot.

I analyzed, too.  I talked to God about it more than a few times.  He helped some.

I learned my expectations aren’t always realistic for my circumstances.  I learned I’m not grateful enough.  I learned I need to be a better follower.  Ultimately I learned grousing is a waste of time.

Last night was the first night.  It was beastly hot.  It was pretty cool.

The Tribe of Dan currently has seven kids and three helpers.  Not half of the tribe go to my church.  I’m not sure they go to church anywhere.  I knew this would be reality, but I didn’t embrace it’s meaning until I was in the thick of kindergarten gravy.

We had fun. We cheered.  We tried to maintain snake formation as we went from place to place.  They ran.  I received too many cobra bites to count.  Seriously, if their fingers were envenomed, I’d be dead.

I remembered that it’s not about the costumes, the curriculum, or the cultural cheesiness.  It’s about the kids and their creator.  It’s about being a conduit of grace and giggles.  It’s about being Jesus with skin on.

I don’t know if any of my Danites will experience God in a new way this week, but I already have.

What about you?  What obstacles is God using to challenge and change you?

image courtesy of Kozzi.com