Chasing Bubbles

A month or two ago, after passing the Belmont UMC day school playground at church on my way to work, I updated my Facebook status to say something like... Lanecia is watching children chase bubbles. I hope Sheila (my young friend from Uganda) and other children around the world have a chance to chase bubbles today as well.

There is nothing like seeing a child delight in freely chasing bubbles blowing in the wind. It is brilliant! They truly believe they are going to catch that bubble, even when it is like a giant above their little heads. Every child should have a chance to experience the joy and delight of chasing bubbles floating in the air like God inspired dreams; that when realized will give birth to a deep joy and life-giving delight.

The joy, delight, determination and hope that beams from this mundane activity from the soul of a child, is like water for the soul.

This week, I had the privilege of loving, teaching, singing, playing, creating, and chasing bubbles with some beautiful children at the Lomngeletjane Preschool and Primary. For a week I got to enter into the lives of over 100 children. As I watched them chasing bubbles, I began to wonder:

What dreams has God placed upon their tiny hearts? Will they receive the tools necessary to realize the God inspired dreams in their hearts? Do they know how special and loved they are? Am I looking at the young leaders & visionaries who will follow the path of the strong youth and adults of this community, working to uplift their community and provide a better world for the next generation? What is God's dream for each child in Lomngeletjane Preschool and Primary, and how might God be calling the church locally and globally to participate in this dream?

Lots of questions, lots of questions.

The great thing about this experience, is the difficulty of being paralyzed by the questions. The joy, delight, determination, and hope of the children, youth, and adults of the Lomngeletjane community and Belmont UMC community, keeps you moving, singing, working, dreaming, hoping, creating and above all loving. I serve God and love the world with some AMAZING youth... AMAZING. It has been so much fun and such a blessing.

I have learned so much this week, so very much. My soul is at rest, there is a peace that is falling upon me that passes all understanding. The love of Christ shared by some of the children and youth of the Lomngeletjane community and their faith has been a testimony to me.

My cup runs over.

I look forward to a little bubble chasing in Jo'Burg next week, hopefully with a few of the children Ciona has introduced me to through photographs and stories.

be God's,

lanecia