Wes

Last Spring I was approached by a local high school about having a student "job shadow" me. Now... this isn't uncommon. Most of the students in my minsitry like to job shadow me for a day because I let them play on the internet, take them out to lunch, etc.
This "job shadow" was different though, it wasn't for a day, it was for a semester. I agreed, looking forward to interacting with a student who was truly interested in going into ministry as a vocation as well as a calling.
Wes arrived this fall. He came to my office an hour early. I wasn't even there, I was still at home in bed. I told our receptionist to send him home and I would contact him later. After we got our schedule's on the same page through a phone conversation, Wes came to my office. This was our first dialogue:
"Wes, why do you want to be in ministry?"
"I don't."
"Then why are you here?"
"Let's just say I am interested in the theology of it all."
"Okay, then..."
And our relationship has gone from there. Wes LOVES philosophy. Any time we debate about philosophy, it is a good day for him. Somwhere though, Wes has been burned by church/religion and is trying to find his fit. Wes has limited social skills (he thinks common courtesy is a waste of time) and we are working on it a little. He is in my office every morning and we do a variety of things. Sometimes I work and he sits there, but usually I give him something to read.
We have recently been talking about his family. His quote to me was "I have no sense of family." Wow. Wes has had a hard time with relatioships in his life. He feels he has no friends other than his mom. He sees little use for relationships other than as a means to the end, but has trouble knowing what that end might be, so has little or no relationships.
All in all, Wes has become a good friend for me. I love having him around. I challenge everything he thinks. I ask pointed questions and force him to interact with others. I am watching his life change as he feels some purpose, at least that is what I think. I am interested to see where our relationship is in two months.

Coaching

I recently started coaching 8th grade football. I have coached in the past, but never 8th grade. I have been having a lot of fun, but most of all, I enjoy the comments I hear from these 8th grade players... Probably some of the toughest guys in school. Here are my favorites:
"Coach, can I go sit down? I have a little headache."
"Coach, what time is it?"
"When do we get our game jersey's?"
"What do I do on this play? (asked for the 20th time in a row)
"Coach, my mom says I need to take it easy today."

It is fun, humorous, and rewarding. I like the interaction and the ability to invest into the lives of these boys.....errr young men. What these young men are learning is that when you put on the pads and walk on the field, all the training on EA Sports is useless.
So if you want a great way to spend a late afternoon, find out when some of the middle school football games are. Have a date with someone and go. It will be fun and entertaining, I promise! Especially if you stand close enough to hear the interaction of the coaches with the players.