clap

CHOSEN {year 5} launched on Saturday, September 15. We had 26 teens in attendance alongside 22 mentors - our largest kick-off by a landslide. As they walked through the door, one after another, I was awestruck by the goodness of our God. I often flashback to that very first club…we had seven teens in total and I was beaming with excitement because God had answered our prayer - SOMEONE had come - this thing was actually happening. 

Oh yes, it happened and it has continued to grow and flourish into something I celebrate with wonder.

This year CHOSEN is taking on new obstacles and challenges, stepping up to grow and become yet again. I could cower beneath the weight of it and feel uncomfortable and ill-equipped. OR I can say yes to being a champion for JESUS and LOVE and wanting to step into hard places, to be light in darkness. I am choosing the later with boldness and courage. I am choosing to be brave. This year we have a transgender teen who is so very dear to us - who has been part of the family since age 7. I am learning to navigate from so many perspectives…first and foremost I love Jesus, secondly I am working in a mission field with teens who do not know Christ, while serving on a church campus, and finally leading a group of mentors who are all in really different places with their ability to engage or even wrestle with the topic of homosexuality let alone transgender and the entirety of the LGBTQIA population. 

At our first club, Nathan shared his desire to be referred to as Nate or Nathan and asked everyone to use male pronouns. He also said “you don’t have to agree with me, but I’d like to ask you to respect me.” At that point, some of the teens clapped. Apparently some of the leaders did too. I have heard muttering that this is controversial. People are conflicted about the leaders clapping. I am conflicted that there is murmuring about it at all. We have a chance to love. We have a chance to embrace. We have a chance to speak truth and walk alongside. Nate showed up to CHOSEN at EvFree Fullerton. He came. He knows we are going to share the gospel. He knows we don’t understand or agree with the decisions he is making, but that we STILL want to be part of his life. Do we need to make a big deal about clapping? Really? I am proud of Nate - I am proud that he came and proud that he shared - THAT IS BRAVE. Maybe they were clapping for that. 

I know we are called to be uncomfortable. I know we are called to be in relationship with those who look different than us - to be love to those who need to be loved. I know 100% that Nate needs to be loved, embraced, and reminded that God loves him wholly and fully. That Jesus died on the cross for him and nothing he does, no decision he makes will EVER change the love God has for him - because he was created in God’s image, he was formed perfectly, and God doesn’t make mistakes. 

RIGHT NOW we have an opportunity to sing that song over his life. BUT WE CAN RUIN IT. Our ugly can stain and squander possibility so quickly. 

SO, let’s be love. Let’s embrace uncomfortable and wrestle with our mess. Let’s beg Jesus to give us His eyes to see our own brokenness and to embrace with His empathy and compassion the brokenness in others. This is a beautiful and monumental chance, full of hope.

I will clap for that.