Saturday Shout-out: Thank you for jumping

After a week at camp, you used to write two songs for our youth group.  The first was a silly, musical scrapbook highlighting all the good times had and the jokes only we would understand.  We laughed at every lyric feeling surprised and so especially loved when we realized how well you had been paying attention to each experience all week.  You must have been taking notes!

The second song you wrote was built of sentences submitted by each small group: a summary of what we had learned that week, what God had done in our hearts, and what we hoped God would continue to do after our trip back home.  You took our sentences, made them rhyme, and set them to music.  You took our week at camp - all God had done to right us as people and strengthen us as a community - and gave it back to us in the form of a song that we might not soon forget all God had done and would do. 

Last week, I got to worship with friends and strangers, singing songs of praise and prayer about and for my city.  You said they were written by worship pastors in Tucson who came together from their different denominations and perspectives to collaborate on this process.  All I could think was, He's at it again.  You've taken our churches and our people, our history and our city and given it all back to us in the form of songs that we might not soon forget all God has done and is doing.

I think about the prayer meetings I got a glimpse into almost two years ago and how many of the same themes those leaders were praying for are present in these songs.  Just like I felt that last night of camp, I think your lyrics are making many Tucsonans and even, I would think, God, feel surprised and so especially loved to realize how well you have been paying attention.  You are so great at noticing the heart at the center of things, and you see what God is doing underneath it all.  You saw downtown as the heart of Tucson before many did, even when it was broken and barely beating.  And, as God does with things broken and forgotten, you paid attention. 

Thank you for City Psalms.  Thank you for your humility, for letting these songs be ours.  Thank you for releasing them to churches to play in their services.  Thank you for how you pay attention.  Thank you for loving Tucson and people how God does.  Gracias por incluir gente de cada raza y denominación. 

So many students were sad to see you leave our youth group, myself included.  But we understood you had to go.  We wanted you to follow the dream God had given you, too.   Though you had little idea what following that dream would look like, you knew absolutely that God had it all worked out.  You went, not without fear, I'm sure, but with much courage and faith. 

Thank you for going.  Thank you for following.  Thank you for jumping. 

And thank you for teaching us that when you jump in faith, you not only survive the fall.  God helps you fly.