Heard in the Van
February 3, 2010
I spent last weekend with some of the junior highers from our church at Forest Home’s winter camp. And yes, I got to drive a van.
I was reminded on our way there of the importance of capturing open spaces like van time to hear what matters to kids. Of course, you also hear a lot of random things (“Did you know that light waves and sound waves are the same thing?” “I can’t believe you took away our cell phones!”), but in the midst of the chaos we nearly always have the opportunity to learn something new.
At one point during the drive I overheard one student say something like, “Most of the other kids at my school will be out drinking tonight.” He didn’t say anything more about it, but it gave me a new window into some of the social pain and pressure he experiences at school. And it opened the door for a follow-up conversation we had the next afternoon during free time.
Open space matters. Even in the van.
©2010 Fuller Youth Institute