Joyful Endurance

This last Sunday, we had a playful and reflective youth group gathering at Richmond Beach Congregational Church United Church of Christ.   We had RBCC UCC Grand Prix Night!   
Each youth received a mini remote control car. We spent some of our time practicing our RC driving skills (not as easy as it may seem) and reflected on the need for endurance. 
 
We asked ourselves;  What is endurance, what do you need it for, and how do you get it?
This is a big question to navigate in one hour.  We had a great time playing and reflecting on this topic.
I thought readers might want to formulate their own thoughts and ideas on the topic of endurance. 

After we all had a time of driving skills practice, we took a break to allow for our cars to recharge.  While this was happening, each youth was given a piece of paper and a pen.  We went through the following activity:
   
Draw a basic outline of a car on the paper provided.
As verbally instructed, draw the following parts of the car, and write down next to it the answer to the corresponding prompt.

1. Steering Wheel: What guides you in life   (a value, goal, or person maybe?)
2. Brakes: What holds you back?  (a lack of resources, circumstance, negative self-talk perhaps?)
3. Gas Pedal: What moves you forward?  (motivation)
4. Windshield wipers: What helps you see clearly?  (gives you perspective)
5. Rearview mirrors:  What do you look back on the most?  (a memory, a loss, or a success maybe?)
6. Seats:  What makes you most comfortable?   (a comfort item or self-care?)
7. Passenger(s): Who keeps you company?   (trusted or inspiring or loving people/friends?)

 
We took time to share our car drawings, details, and responses if and when comfortable.
Then the youth tackled these questions and brainstormed the following ideas
 What is endurance?  
                        Endurance is the ability to keep going despite hard circumstances.
                        Endurance can be physical, mental, and emotional.  
                        Endurance is the ability to remain focused, strong, and motived for a long period of time.
 What do you need endurance for? 
                         We need endurance to help us follow through and keep commitments. 
                         Work towards goals we've set for ourselves, to finish projects we like and ones we don't. 
                         We need endurance for coping and sticking with and overcoming difficult situations. 
                         We need endurance to keep us hopeful and also for visioning the future
How do you get endurance?
                         Endurance grows over time with practice,
                         Tracking our progress can help us have endurance and keep us motivated towards a goal.
                         Having a good support system can help you stay focused.
                         If we don't have the energy or motivation to keep going, we can reflect, rest,                                                       and ask for help and outside motivation, then start again. 
What do you need endurance for right now?
                          School, life, college prep, work, remaining hopeful, caring for others, self-caring.
 
After this time of discussion and brainstorming, we made a connection to Jesus and the season of Lent.  Throughout the six weeks of Lent, we hear the stories of Jesus’ last week.  
Did Jesus have or need endurance?  Why would he need endurance?
Jesus had a patient endurance.  He had awareness of his journey, his goals, his endgame. 
Endurance gave Jesus the will to persevere during the difficult challenges, trails, and the upending situations of his journey.  Embracing God's Ways takes endurance or in other words, determined follow through.  Commitment. 

Of course, after all this thought, we got down to the business for racing!  We make a route and raced our cars around the room.  We launched cars off stairs and up ramps.  We drag raced across the length of our fellowship hall.  We simply had high speed fun!  Because endurance isn't just about our ability to bear a hard thing, it's also about turning it into joy when we are able to.
 
Finally, everyone was given the idea for a spiritual take-away endurance builder.
Take Away Prayer Practice: The Quiet Eye
‘The quiet eye’ is known as a visual perception that fixes to a goal point and allows an athlete a keen focus that overrides physical and mental distractions. In each sport, the fixation point is different, but in all of them, mental fixation process is a critical element in helping expert athletes endure the most grueling circumstances without giving up under pressure.

Take time to breathe. Fix your eyes on something pleasing or interesting. Focus on that point for a few moments while your clear your mind and continue to breathe.
            Breathe in:  Life is not a race
            Exhale:  Life is a journey

Perhaps you will find this activity thoughtful and find time to sit with these ideas, thoughts, and questions about ENDURANCE with the child, youth and adults in your life. 

 

---