By Ali Barnett
I have been thinking a lot lately about an important life lesson that I learned from Kenny and I would love to share with you, in case you find yourself in a place of needing a little encouragement this week.
Who's Kenny? It is such a privilege to share Kenny's story with you because Kenny's life has changed mine.
I met Kenny during YFC Camp. As soon as he got off the bus, he insisted on breaking rules.
His demeanor was aggressive, he refused to follow instruction, and disregarded the authorities.
When it was time for Club—the creative, engaging program where kids attend after dinner—Kenny would run down the path, towards the woods, away from the club building. Eventually we would get him into the club room, where he refused to sit within the taped-off section for students. He slumped against the back wall, totally disengaged.
He refused to participate in any camp activities and at one point he even destroyed one leader’s suitcase of clothing by urinating all over it.
This was Kenny's first time at YFC Camp and you might say he was out of control.
Leaders were getting exhausted and running out of ways to engage Kenny. Maybe Camp wasn't the best setting for him.
But God.
Midweek, I decided to try a different approach. I'd heard that Kenny skipped out on his high ropes ride and went to find him.
I offered him a ride on the golf cart, inviting him to the smoothie shop.
While on our way, I introduced him to my husband, Lennox, who was leading worship for the camp. We gave him a CD and a hat.
Then we continued into the smoothie shop and when I handed him his smoothie, he said "Why are you being so nice to me? I have been so horrible to you all week."
Finally. A doorway to have a real, intentional conversation with Kenny.
A conversation that opened up an opportunity for me to ask him more about his story, share parts of my story, and explain the grace in God's story that allows me to respond with kindness, because I have received so much kindness from God.
Kenny listened. He asked questions. He answered some.
For the first time in 3 days, I began to see that layers in Kenny's story were beginning to peel back.
Heartache. Broken home. Neglect. ADHD. Moving schools. As Kenny shared, God peeled back the layers of frustration in my own heart and filled me with his compassion. This kid had been through so much and he was only in middle school.
I asked Kenny why he wasn't participating in activities and if there were any rides that he wanted to do. He answered, "I want to do the high ropes, but I am scared." I told him we could ride the golf cart over to the high ropes and he could just try on the harness. He didn't have to climb if he didn't want to, but we could move one step at a time. "Just try on the harness."
It took 45 minutes to convince him that he could do it. He had it in him. And this picture, below, is the smile of success. He did the entire ropes course.
And that isn't even the best part, as that was only day 3. By day 5, Kenny was sitting next to me, in the club room, within the boundaries taped on the floor, engaging in worship. During the song, “Reckless Love,” he leaned over to me and said "I feel like this song was written for me. I feel like I am that one person that God is chasing after."
Sometimes, we look at our lives and we tend to measure success by the tangibles—the things we can see, feel, and touch. Numbers and statistics and lives that change drastically by one powerful moment.
But sometimes, success is choosing to put on the harness. Climbing into the golf cart. Driving straight into our fear.
Sometimes success is going from running the opposite direction of where we want to be and eventually ending up in the space where we need to be.
Sometimes success comes in the shape of a smoothie and a CD.
Sometimes success is a smile in place of a smirk.
Sometimes success is being open and vulnerable.
Sometimes success is moving from the back of the room, up just a few inches because something in you has changed...you feel just a little safer than you did the day before.
I want to encourage you with the lyrics that captivated Kenny's heart that week:
"Oh the overwhelming, never ending, reckless love of God. Oh it chases me down, fights til I'm found, leaves the 99. I couldn't earn it and I don't deserve it. Still you give yourself away.
When I was your foe, still your love fought for me. You have been so, so good to me. When I felt no worth, you paid it all for me.
There's no shadow you won’t light up, no mountain you won't climb up, coming after me.
There's no wall you won't kick down, lie you won't tear down, coming after me."
My prayer for you today is that these lyrics remind you of the powerful love of Christ and that you feel the same way Kenny did, when you hear this song… "That this song was written just for you."
If you'd like to listen to it, you can find it here.
I am forever grateful for every prayer and every penny you invest in these precious lives. If Kenny's story inspires you, please join us for our Annual Banquet on April 2nd at Giovannis to hear more stories of lives that are changing. You can get your ticket or more information about the event here.
