I had only played the violin for about a year. I wasn’t very good. In fact I was quite terrible.
At church that year there was going to be a special holiday festival. As part of the entertainment, Mr. Louis Boos was going to play the violin. Mr. Boos was the “go-to” violin player at church. Whenever the choir had an anthem which could use a violin descant, he was called upon. Whenever there was instrumental music played over the summer, Mr. Boos was sure to be one of the musicians.
Mr. Boos was a large man. His violin looked almost cartoonishly-small as he played. But oh how he played! With broad bow strokes and exquisite vibratos, the rich tones he brought out of the instrument inspired and amazed me as I sat in the pew.
A few weeks before the festival, Mr. Boos stopped me at coffee hour. He said, “Would you like to play the violin with me? We could play a duet.”
Mr. Boos and I playing together???!!!! I hesitated and started to say, “No, thank you,” but he reassured me that it would all work out okay. And it did.
What Mr. Boos did for me was far more significant than he may have realized at the time. He connected me to the church in a new way. He was an adult other than my parents who paid attention to me, who sought me out, who cared about me.
Andrew Root, Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary says,
“Youth ministry is not about getting things accomplished – only the act of God can bring about the transformation we seek. Youth ministry is about participating deeply in young people’s lives as we await, together in suffering & joy, the coming of God.”
Mr. Boos was doing something far more significant than he may have realized – he was doing youth ministry with me – participating in my life as together we waited the coming of God.
This Sunday is Youth Sunday. Youth will read and pray, preach and play music on this day of Pentecost.
As we express out gratitude for their offerings (and to Tom Schauer and Abby Schoppe who organized them), let us also make a new commitment to participate deeply in their lives. How might you be a Louis Boos? Together we wait the coming of God.
In Christ,
Pastor Jen