A Heart Party

Wyld Life is the middle school version of Young Life. We have our middle school events on Saturday nights and were supposed to have one last night. The high school age leaders showed up at 6:15 to set up and prepare. They talked through games and skits and braced themselves for the onslaught of an expected 30 crazy middle schoolers. At about 7:30 with still no one showing up, we accepted the fact that no one was coming. What appeared to be a failure, actually created an opportunity for one of the best Wyld Life/Young Life stories I've ever heard. This is totally Chicken Soup for the Soul quality.

Claire and Katy, juniors in high school and Wyld Life leaders, joked about what they were going to do with their open Saturday night since club wasn't happening.Little did they know that God had something very special in store for them. Katy got a call from a high school friend whose little sister was having a birthday party. This little sister comes to Wyld Life and adores Katy. She was really upset because only a handful of friends had showed up for her party. Maybe this story means a lot to me because I know what it's like to have no one show up for a party (see here). And maybe Katy and Claire were feeling especially sympathetic because they had just hosted an event where no one came either. The girls rallied on behalf of this middle school birthday girl and gave her a night to remember. They picked up some balloons and headed over to the party. If you haven't hung out with middle schoolers in a few years, let me just tell you that in their minds, high school kids are like gods. So in walk these two cool, popular, pretty high school girls bearing gifts and smiles. They interacted with the other guests and the birthday girl and before they knew it, tears were replaced with laughter. They helped bring redemption to what could have been a miserable night. So what was a failed night of Wyld Life, actually became a night of much more powerful ministry than what normally takes place at an event.

THIS is why I do Young Life. Claire and Katy are two of my own girls who are now living out the Gospel on their own. They are bringing life and beauty and joy to people who need it. I have never been more proud.

I am getting teary eyed as I write this because I just realized they threw a Heart Party. The Heart Party story is one of my all time favorites. It makes me cry every time I hear it or even just think about it. I hesitate to write about it because I fear I cannot do it justice, but if you can catch even a glimpse into its glory then it will be worth it. Two summers ago on a YL camp trip our speaker Steve told this story about his daughter. She was young and as she was developing they observed some strange behavior. Doctors suggested signs could point towards autism. So Steve and his wife braced themselves for a life of difficulty for their daughter. They envisioned the challenges and grieved the loss of a "normal" life for her. When Valentine's Day rolled around, she started to notice all the decorations for sale at stores and inquired about the holiday. She quickly decided that she wanted to throw a heart party. Her parents consented and she began the preparations. She began cutting tiny hearts out of every spare piece of paper around the house. The stack of invitations grew larger and larger as the days went by. Cut out paper hearts and crayon scribbled hearts were strewn atop the table awaiting the fateful day.

Steve describes being nervous about the Heart Party. Her hopes were so high, but who was going to come? Two little girls from church agreed to join both his daughters at the party. They arrived that afternoon and were less than enthusiastic. All of Steve's fears hit him across the face. Was this what his entire daughter's life was going to be like? Awkward interactions? Kids of friends being forced or bribed to be kind to her? And then something happened...there was a knock at the door. Who was it? They weren't expecting anyone. They went to answer the door and there waiting on the doorstep were three college guys who were YL leaders with Steve. "Is there a Heart Party here? We're looking for a heart party!" They busted through the entry way and joined the party. For the next few hours these three guys help to make the Heart Party one of the most beautiful experiences in Steve's family's life. They told jokes, they cheered, they gave piggy back rides around the living room. All the girls had a great time. Where there was awkwardness, they brought ease. Where there was fear in the hearts of parents, they brought assurance that no matter what lie ahead for this daughter, they would be there to support, to laugh, and to celebrate.

Steve describes this as bringing Shalom, an all encompassing peace and wholeness uniting all of us. Claire and Katy brought Shalom last night. Those college guys brought Shalom. These stories bring Shalom to my life even though I wasn't actually there. Whatever you want to call it, it is the Gospel in action, and it is beautiful.