Look up, look down, look all around and you will see His power

[kiaxet]

For those of you who are wondering both where my mornings have gone and what on Earth the title of this entry is supposed to be, I've been volunteering at Vacation Bible School this week. I (the "adult leader") and another girl (the "high school leader") are in charge of a group of seven mixed age elementary school kids, taking them from Crafts to movies to games to Bible stories and helping them make connections and get closer to God.

Or actually, Jesus.

Unlike last year, where the focus was on God, the focus of this year's VBS is on Jesus. We're doing a Groups' package* once again this year, which means there are a few constants:

- The recommended craft will be too expensive/time consuming/difficult, and the default craft will be used
- There will be at least one song I can't stand
- There will be at least one jazzed up/kiddified remix of a popular song (this year's is Amazing Grace, which I rather enjoy because the choreography involves "raising the roof" every time the words "Amazing Grace" are sung)
- There will be a total of one snack that could be considered remotely healthy
- The theme song will get stuck in my head
- There will be at least one game that involves getting soaked

*Groups' is a company that puts together themed packages for vacation bible schools. They include craft plans, themed videos, lesson plans, snack recipes, songs and CDs, "Bible Buddies" (characters to help kids remember the Bible point each day), and quite a few other factors that make a vacation bible school run smoothly. They really weren't kidding when they called it a package.

Of course, being a vacation bible school at all, there are a few more constants with the kids:

- At least one won't want to participate
- At least one will miss their parents
- At least one will be gung-ho about absolutely everything
- At least one will participate in everything...except the singing
- At least two will already know one another and hang out almost exclusively
- At least one won't listen or pay attention to anything

Yes, I do have all these kids...but the non-participatory ones are coming around, one no longer misses her mom, one's still gung-ho and loving it, one will sing (but only certain songs), the two are hanging out with the other kids now, and the one (well, three) are actually starting to listen. I sure don't expect my kids to be perfect, and I love 'em for it.

Now, with a Groups' package, every day has a themed lesson centered around a Bible Point - a short phrase that comes with a loud affirmation from the kids. Examples from last year's VBS include "God is with us" and "God is strong." This year, in keeping with our science theme (the package is Power Lab), the affirmation is a loud "A-ha!" accompanied by one pointing to one's temple (got it memorized?) and then outwards in a kind of diagonal Objection!point, as though the kid is really starting to get this Jesus stuff. Every time one of the Bible Points comes up, the kids respond, all at once and all very loudly.

And of course, there are incredible amounts of fun. Today in the games rotation, we dropped Mentos in Diet Coke and ran for our lives (and our clean white shirts). Tuesday's crafts were fold-out cardboard binoculars that actually worked that the kids colored (it was Easy Craft Day). Yesterday's snack was root beer floats. All throughout the week, the station leaders give out pipe cleaners as a sort of a merit point system (answer a question correctly? Exemplify the Bible Point of the day? Here, have a pipe cleaner) to twist around the handle of the group supply bucket. My group has a small rainbow by now (thirty-five at last count), and they are quite proud of it. VBS does indeed have its incredible moments.

For me, though, it's a bit more than that. I go to church every Sunday and I'm at a Christian college, but somehow I always up finding God somewhere else. I've seen Him around Power Lab more than I've seen him in church at eight in the morning, probably because at that time I'm either looking too hard or not looking hard enough. But it would be hard not to see Him at work this week, especially when:

Breauna, six years old and my youngest girl, shares with the group how much she genuinely loves her mother and her elderly dog, because Jesus gives us the power to be thankful (A-ha!)

Jacob and Sam, ten and eleven years old and incredibly rambunctious, vow to help one another stay on task and pay attention and manage to do so (quite a feat for boys their age), because Jesus gives us the power to help others (A-ha!)

Logan, six years old and my youngest boy, is terrified to wade through a plastic box of water and gooey gel, yet musters up his courage and gets through, because Jesus gives us the power to be brave (A-ha!)

I know everybody looks at and lives their religion differently. Some people, for example, thrive on long, poetic homilies, some have a regimented prayer schedule, and some choose to meditate alone for a very long time. I know this is how some people find God.

For me, though...well, I'm different. I find God once a year during the summer, acting through my little group of seven young kids.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

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