Branson or bust

We developed a curriculum for the kids. They had fun and so did we. I became friends with the director of children’s activities, Marthe. Through her, I got more and more involved with the Jr. High kids.

That spring, the kids were taking a trip to Silver Dollar City. They have a weekend set aside for Christian youth. They have inspirational speakers and well known musicians and of course the rides. The adults also had some workshops. I went along as a chaperone.

What I have not mentioned was that I had been thinking about the ministry. My grandfather had died a year before and his preaching legacy pulled at me. I had been giving it a lot of thought, but held back. If I was to walk that path, I did not want it to be for the wrong reasons. I would not do it out of guilt or some self-imposed obligation to my grandfather’s memory. It had to be pure. It had to be right. This was God I was considering, after all. He deserved no less.

So, I piled weight upon my thoughts. It was harder and harder to think about and I was too stubborn to just pick a path. I would not abandon something that I was supposed to do, but I would not choose it until I was sure of my motivation.

Saturday night at Branson was a rally. There is a stadium there, which was filled with teens and the adults. There was music and fun. Then a speaker came forward. He spoke about giving your life to God. There were signs they had taped up along the walls of the stadium. He called on people to go sign their names if they agreed to devote their lives to God and His Word.

I stood there stock still. People filed past me. I would not…could not write my name on that sheet. I knew what it meant. I had to be sure. The speaker announced that they would give just a few more minutes. I could not move. My mind raced. All the things I had seen. Over all the days leading up to here, all the activities that day, how did they impact me?

I finally cleared my head of all the false reasons for me. I knew I was supposed to serve. I walked to the wall and signed my name. As I lay the pen down, I felt light as a feather. Its amazing how making a decision can wash the doubt away. I have never experienced that. I walked back to my seat. Everyone was singing some song. I turned to Marthe and told her what had happened. I was going to Seminary.