the value of showing up

*Names have been changed for the protection of students

“What is actually worth it?”

As a Young Life leader, I ask myself that question a lot. Between the countless sporting events, drama club rehearsals and performances, band and orchestra concerts, and everything else, it’s not always clear what I should show up for, and what’s okay to skip.

Drama Club rehearsals became one of those question marks for me. I was meeting and spending time with a lot of students, but I wasn’t seeing many relationships move toward deeper conversations about faith. So, I started to wonder if it was even worth it.

This winter, Dexter Drama Club was producing two shows at once: one for the high school and one for the middle school. Despite my doubts, I decided to show up for one of the rehearsals, hoping that I would get to hang out with and have good conversations with the high schoolers I knew. But, when I got there, I was asked to supervise the middle schoolers. I was bummed, but reluctantly I said yes. 

I ended up talking with a few of the 8th graders about how the world isn’t the way it’s supposed to be, and not how God originally created it. The moment passed quickly and they moved on, but I prayed that a seed was planted and that one day I would get to call myself their Young Life leader.

Last week, I was back at rehearsal for a different show, and one of the 8th graders from that day, Katie, was there. As soon as she saw me, she waved, so I ran over to her. She said, “I’ve been thinking about what you said during Cat in the Hat about Young Life. That’s something I want to do in the future!” 

I got to tell her she didn’t have to wait, that I could be her Young Life leader now!  I even got to invite Katie on a WyldLife Summer Trip with other students heading into high school next year.

The Lord so clearly answered my prayer and reminded me that when I show up, He makes it worth it!

— Taryn Wachowiak, Dexter High School Leader