"Unless you give yourself away, you cannot discover who you are."

As I continue to reflect on this statement, and as I think back over the years of ministry, I remember the many youth who have been part of so many things. I can honestly say that they truly are willing to give themselves away. They have come to know what it means to humble thyself. What an awesome feeling it is to know that we have so many youth and young adults from our diocese who have made this a way of life.

If you will indulge me, I would like to move a little more deeply into these thoughts.

What does it mean to give yourself away? Well, for most of us, we can probably think of it as being a little transparent, allowing others to see the real me. Being willing to open up and allow others to come to know us in a more intimate way. Yes, this does require that we break down some walls, but through it all it can be a wonderful way to grow as a person.

I recently came across another quote that seems to be very fitting for this topic: "Smile, even through your tears." So many times, I have seen our youth become so comfortable with who they are, and with the friends they have found in the youth ministry settings, that they are easily able to pray, laugh and cry together. They, however, are able to smile in the midst of everything. They have come to know who they are and who their friends are. They have come to accept one another as they are and in turn help one another grow further.

It seems that as we end another youth event, whether it be a camp, youth rally, retreat or TEC weekend, there are always young people who simply do not want the experience to end. They are on a spiritual high, more in love with our risen Lord and continually encountering him through the friends they have made. They simply do not want to depart from this time together.

I saw this first hand after our summer TEC, as my youngest daughter, Amanda, had served on one of the teams after attending TEC her first time in March. As we were leaving Garden City, you could see the tears in her eyes, as she truly has found a community that loves her and accepts her as she is, something that is true for all youth.

But through these tears, there was a smile as she knew that she had given herself away, and through this giving, she had come to know a little more about herself. So, once again I leave you with an invitation, the same invitation that has been extended over the years. May we work together and in some special way, bring more of our young people to know Christ through different youth events?

Can we bring them into this circle of friends and a community grounded in acceptance and love?