VBS Day 5

A little boy runs across the parking lot and gives me a hug, then runs back to the sidewalk and runs back and forth between me and the sidewalk hugging and running . . . a sheet filled with red hands as young and old alike learn to stand up and speak out against injustice – the injustice of children being used by adults around the world to fight their battles for them . . . grass everywhere – the combination of cut grass + a wet day + lots of little (and bit) feet coming in and out and in and out of he church – what a glorious sight . . . singing softly until we get to the parts everybody knows when shouts of joy and recognition emerge . . . same little boy handing out music sheets like a pro as we progress from song to song to song . . . babies sleeping on mom shoulders . . . activity sheets strewn everywhere . . . old friendships strengthened and new ones forged . . . VBS is over and it was good.

11 Ways to Know This VBS Is Not a City VBS

You’ll know this VBS is in the country (and not the city) when . . .

1. out in the parking lot at the end of the first day, one of the volunteers hands another her (yes, her) repaired chain saw

2. when the imaginary walk for the pre-schoolers imagines hunting deer

3. when the church parking lot is filled with pick-ups, SUV’s, and not a single van

4. the pre-schoolers can identify the fresh veggies blindfolded by touch and smell

5. the leader gets a right-out-of-the-garden head of cabbage left over from class as a take home

6. doing a circling prayer that requires you know where N, S, E, and W are even when inside is no problem – because most folks always know N, S, E, and W without thinking much about it

7. you do a story about peacocks and swans and the kids know what they are and also already know that peacocks can’t fly and at least one of the kids will be able to say, “we used to have peacocks” and be telling the truth

8. at least one of the kids is covered head to toe with scabs from scratched mosquito bites from being outside from sunrise to beyond sunset

9. feathers for the swan craft were gathered not from Michael’s, but from a neighbor’s turkey house and have to be chloroxed to get the skin off

10. at least one kid won’t be able to come because she has to walk her fair calf every evening

11. a Miss Wilma (who does not attend this church) drops off cookies for the kids (there having been a minor rebellion over the pastor’s decision not to provide snacks this year) and everyone (a) knows who Miss Wilma is and (b) the grown-ups are crestfallen that there aren’t enough for them too

Yep, it’s VBS in the country and it is good.

VBS Day 3

VBS Day3

Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory . . . 

All God’s critters got a place in the choir . . . 

Jesus loves me, this I know . . . 

He’s got the whole world in his hands . . . 

Singing and laughing and lots of hand motions
Observing the bold children mistaking their way through
and the less sure, some afraid to try lest they get it wrong
All of them jumping up and down today
midway time of running and playing
and Jesus – where is Jesus in all this?
I’m pretty sure Jesus is there in the grass
running and laughing and playing with the best of them
Do I worry about whether they ‘get’ the lesson?
Not so much
I’m figuring any time spent in sheer joy
that’s associated with Jesus
and church is a good thing –
a worthy memory for a child
to carry into adulthood
Oh, and there’s Miss Wilma’s cookies too

VBS Day 2

• Bread made by 3, 4 and 5-year olds (with a whole lot of help from Caroline) - awesome
• Peacocks and swans from paper plates – I love the versatility of paper plates and the mind that could behold that simple white circle and see a beautiful bird
• Food bank procession of cans – one of the sweetest things I’ve seen as little ones reminded moms and dads to bring their cans and placed them gently, ever so gently in the tub so other people can eat tonight
• The sheer joy of running and playing and laughing and being with other kids
• Me - “what did you learn tonight?” Braiden - “Jesus!”   Love that wee boy!
• The big kids helping the little kids – kindness
• One bleeding lip and one cry for mommie – crises met with love and first aid and mommie’s arms
• Austin jumping out of the van and shouting his excitement to me that his young cousin came too – and taking care of her each step of the way
• Sitting bathed in the night sky with a friend when it’s all over while her daughter makes us laugh and ponder when we last jumped for joy as Maggie jumps and jumps and jumps some more, managing in the middle to sit for a quiet moment and hear the water and the sheep settling down for the night – one lone fellow (young, I imagine) determined not to let sleep overtake him just yet

Another good day.

VBS Day 1

VBS Day1

• 15 minutes late to start
• No teens
• Curriculum changed & point of whole theme lost
• No-show volunteers
• Disorganized chaos
• Controlling leader grabs papers out of another’s hands, hurting feelings along the way (yep, that was me)
• Last-minute changes throwing a carefully created schedule into meaninglessness
• Laughter in the halls
• Children running and playing in the yard
• Mommies trying to leave little ones
• Songs sung with hand motions
• Paper plates cut into animal shapes come alive with a little glue and a lot of imagination

Yep, it’s summer in America, where Vacation Bible School is in full swing.