Light in the Darkness

My Destination Imagination (DI) team is off to a great start. They had a brainstorming session yesterday in an attempt to settle on their choice of topic to research for the year's challenge. It is amazing what wild ideas can be generated by four teenagers' collective brains. Quirky does not begin to describe this group...

For example, one member, in fact...my daughter, was wearing elf ears to the meeting. Most 16 year olds would probably not be caught dead in elf ears. One day last month she came to me and said, "You know how you told me you would let me get my ears pierced if I wanted? Well can I have elf ears instead?" I put her off, thinking elf ears on a 16 year old would likely be worn once and then add to her pile of dust collectors. When Asherel passed her driving test, she asked again if she could be "rewarded" with elf ears. I was going to take her out to lunch in celebration. As we left the DMV, I asked her if she would like a lunch out now.
"Can I still have my elf ears?" she asked.

She has wanted elf ears for quite a long time now, so I caved. The elf ears came yesterday. They look surprisingly, frighteningly real. I hope no elves were harmed in their production. They match her skin tone perfectly. She glued them to her own ear tips. (It is a temporary glue). They have little silver earrings that cover the line between real and fake ear. Then she tucked her hair behind her ears, and greeted her DI group.

"You're wearing elf ears," said one friend.
Asherel grinned.
After our DI meetings, my team goes to the church youth group together. As they walked out the door, Asherel's friend said, "Wait...you're wearing those to youth group?"
Asherel nodded.

There is a lot of sadness in the world, a lot of uncertainty, a lot of painful memories, especially for our country on 9/11 yesterday. I feel sorry for our young people nowadays who will never know the fearless freedom I experienced as a kid. The world was a different place back then. By age 9, I was walking a mile to a horse farm all by myself, leaving in the morning to work and ride at the farm, and returning at dinner time. I had no cell phone, nor did my folks. They didn't wonder if we were being abducted, or hurt by horrible people. They rang the dinner bell at 5 and we came home. It was an innocent time. I would not feel safe letting my daughter do in these days what I was able to do when I was young. I know evil has always existed, but it seems it is accelerating. The Bible warns that the days will come when evil will seem to be winning the Battle. We are cautioned to cling to God and despite the present darkness, to seek and be light to the world.

I loved the innocent joy of a teenager who finds delight in wearing elf ears. I have no doubt, those ears will bring many smiles. And taking those whimsical ears to church where she would be reminded that God is there and God is real struck me as the perfect antidote to the sadness of the day.

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Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; (Ecclesiastes 12:1 ESV)

Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me – But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself. (Psalm 49:5, 15 NIVUK)


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