Our youth are amazing. On our recent Middle School Fall Retreat, each morning 29 of us split up and spent time alone with God surrounded by the beauty of creation, and I was astounded by the depth and thoughtfulness displayed by some of these 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.
The assignment? Allow the words of Psalm 19:1-4a to sink in:
1The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
Meditate on this ancient poetry praising God…and then write your own! And here are the 3 who shared their poems with the group in our final worship service together…
God is here, God is here
Even if sound doesn’t appear
Like stars, like light
All brighten up the fearful night
Not all will be heard, not all will be seen
But there will always be a little gleam.
~Millicent Childs, 6th grade
How wonderful it is to be around
The rocks, trees, the birds, and the seas,
With just you and me in the breeze.
I feel your touch
So just come out
The changing colors of the leaves
Makes me want to feel your breeze.
~Anna Hartis, 7th grade
The green that surrounds is lush and lovely
The smells of autumn falling and the clouds above me
Remind me of your wondrous power
Who strengthens me more and more every hour.
The light wind that rustles the leaves
Helps my stress go away and fills me with ease
It reminds me of your wondrous power
That heals me more and more every hour.
The wind dies down and the earth becomes still
I think of all day the possibilities I can fulfill,
Reminds me of your wondrous power,
That guides me more and more every hour.
And as the summer turns to fall,
I hear more clearly your Spirit call,
Reminds me of your wondrous power,
Who strengthens me more and more every hour.
~Kyleigh Pegram, 8th grade
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