Lessons From a Lock-In

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. – Proverbs 17:17

There’s something special about staying up all night with dozens of your favorite teenagers.  This year’s back-to-school lock-in was nearly canceled due to some logistical nightmares, but in the end, we were able to host two other churches in our new youth space for worship before staying up all night at a skating rink.

I thought for sure our kids would be cranky and burnt out on skating by 2 AM, mostly because I was grumpy and burnt out before we even got to the skating rink.  I hate skating, and our lock-in didn’t change that fact. But I was delighted to discover the skating talents of our students and adult leaders!

Covered in blisters, bruises, and begging for sleep, we returned to the church. Half of our students drifted off on the ride home while some started laughing deliriously.  By the time we made it back, everyone was ready to crash on giant bean-bags before getting picked-up.

Later that day, my husband was laughing, saying there’s something special about staying up all night.  It a situation which bonds you, and I can see what he means. When people are grumpy or goofy from fatigue, then our guard is down.  Conversations are looser and more honest.  Something as simple as lack of sleep can serve as a shared struggle perfect for forging relationships.

The thing is, it’s a new school year for our students, and there will be a lot of real struggles and challenges which go along with the new year.  Failing a test, getting cut from the team, losing a friendship. We all experience individual struggles and challenges, but there’s something about a shared burden which bonds us together.  And, perhaps, if we have experienced a few of the same burdens together, like lack of sleep, we are more open to sharing our individual burdens when times get tough.

Proverbs 17:17 is true, a brother or sister in Christ is born for a time of adversity.  We need Jesus-centered friendship to make it through the challenges of life. However, the bonds of Christian friendship are also born during a time of adversity, even if that adversity is a lack of sleep and some skating blisters.

May God’s blessing be with all of the students, teachers, and life-long-learners starting a new season of education, and may we all stick together through the challenges ahead as brothers and sisters in the Kingdom of God.