Directly in the Middle of Awful and Beloved

As I have mentioned before, my job consists of the highest highs and the lowest lows with a few boring hours thrown in the mix.

Just for your reference, here is an example of boring:

Interpreting surveys so that a client can get a "free gift" of a t-shirt with a puppy on it...not life altering!

This is another post that will fall right in the middle of awful and beloved. In January I interpreted for a United Methodist, youth conference, in Ocean City. This conference hosts christian artists and has around 6,000 attendees. Needless to say it is kinda' fun to be on stage! (brag brag brag)

I went to this conference my first year in Baltimore and the worship leader was a man named Reggie Dabbs. He brought with him a group called "Masters Commission". Reggie is hilarious and MC preforms live music videos that are inspiring and blunt. I remember thinking as I watched that first year that the skits were motivating but more serious than necessary for a group of youth. I never experienced drug and alcohol abuse as a member of Warren First UMC's youth group.

This year on the other hand I had some experience under my belt. As I interpreted the closing service, Reggie asked all the adults to "hug their babies". Hug your babies! Show love to those youth who need it so desperately in their lives. It could have been the powerful music that moved me or the literally thousands of youth that were standing, saying "I have been hurt by this life!" It could have been both. It could have been the stories that ran through my head as I interpreted, the Deaf boy I know who grew up with no one to communicate with and experienced abuse at home and rape at school. It could have been the Deaf boy I know who held another boy down during a sexual assault. It could have been the girl at church I see every Sunday who has so much potential and a family that has taught her that she needs to hit and punch to get attention. Whatever the reason was, I no longer felt that the message was too harsh. I felt it was just right! I was moved by the message of love for those who need it and forgiveness for those who have done terrible things. I was moved by the youth leaders that got out of their seats and hugged their babies for what could have been a half an hour. I was moved to tears, crying like a baby up in front of 6,000 people.

That evening was beautiful, the experiences were not. This is the world that some youth live in. Some are like me and they play bite the onion with friends on a Friday night, and some have experiences that call us to "hug your babies!" This evening was life altering. Now, go hug some babies! Peace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA