My day started with a prayer and the gym; I fought myself about getting up to go but I went and I'm glad. Six bike miles and three sets of reps with weights later and I feel that familiar surge of positive energy. The sweet ache of muscles growing and the heady experience of endorphins and serotonin filling me with a physical euphoria, makes me feel happy that I committed to working out.  I need mental, physical and spiritual strength.  I want to be strong, and given all that is going on in this world today, I’m gonna need all the strength I can get. 

I never used to pray in the morning; when I reached my teens, I used to do a quick night time prayer while lying prone under the covers.  I had grown old enough to determine that the age old children's prayer should be abandoned for a more age appropriate homage to God.  You know the one I'm speaking of..."Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.  If I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take..." it was then followed by a litany of names of family, friends and pets, often mumbled and segueing into soft slumber and colorful dreams (or frightening nightmares but I’ll leave that for another blog).

I have to admit that when I got married I skipped praying altogether, except for the occasional blessing of the meal, which I would conveniently remember if my mother was around or if someone else mentioned it.  I’d act all surprised and say something like I was starving and forgot all about saying the blessing, laugh and bow my head, partly in shame.  It wasn’t that I’d lost my faith but my focus on God and all that comes with being a Christian took a back seat to being married, having fun and raising kids…not necessarily in that order.

Before I was married, I went to church for twenty years, almost every single Sunday with my mom, sister and brother. Sometimes my dad would go but if it was Sunday and the games were on there was a sure bet that he would be home relaxing.  Meanwhile, we were listening to the fired up, bible thumping, soul saving sermon of the pastor at church, or singing in the choir and making mommy proud because we could sit still and not move during the two and half hour service.  So when I took my marriage vows, I felt that God would understand my short break from attending church; after all I did my tour of duty and then some.

But as fate and the Mother Overseers LLC (my biological mother and my mother in-law) would have it, it came time to put my children through their Christian paces a-la Sunday school.  That meant I had to go to church (insert dry face here).   I found the rush to get them dressed and all of us out the door a chore that I didn’t need on top of everything else I was doing, but I did it (my husband followed in the tradition of Fathers Inc. and remained home). Before long it became less hectic and, just as my mother did, I took pride in their attendance and good behavior.  Years later, I was volunteered to become a Sunday school teacher by my mother-in-law (still not sure I’ve forgiven her for that J and I think she was in cahoots with my mom). 

I figured I’d give it a few months before the church would realize I didn’t know jack about the bible, and relegate me back to the pews to attend regular service.  I thought that it wouldn’t take them long to want to find someone else that was far more biblically knowledgeable and Christian education capable to teach the kids. Well, it’s been ten plus years and I’m still teaching (go figure).  I’ve gone through three confirmation classes and have come to know at least fifteen kids during the years.  During that time I’ve learned that as much as I hoped to have left a positive influence on those children, they have left a positive influence on me.  Every Sunday they recharged my spiritual battery, leaving me energized and hopeful, full of ideas and joy. 

However, truth be told, every May, I’m lacking zest and just looking forward to a summer break; even going so far as to consider quitting (I’ve even said as much to the Pastors I’ve served under) but by some unforeseen divine grace, I’ve been back every year.   During the summer break, I use the time to recharge by going on vacation occasionally sleeping in and among other things, attending adult worship.  It’s not long before I find myself starting to formulate ideas on what to do for the coming semester. 

I do occasionally dream about someone else coming along and taking over the class so I can be free to do other stuff; after all I am a writer and a singer and I would love the extra time to dedicate to honing skills as well as hawking my wares.  The new teacher on the block would have to come up with holiday pageants and performances, search for fun lessons and activities and be cornered with questions like, “Was Adam and Eve really naked?  Why didn’t Jesus use magic? What color is God’s eyes? Did they have bathrooms?”  

But then the time comes around for me to see them and I have to admit I get excited because I realized that I’m starting to see things they way they do; I get to act silly and play memory games and laugh and run and color.  It’s become clear to me that these children are my energy source.

Much like I commit to getting out of bed to go to the gym and spend time burning calories and building muscle in order to stay healthy, I commit to meeting with these kids and their parents as we channel the spiritual energy we all need to survive.  We thrive on each other.  Positive human energy is needed to survive.  Working out, writing, reading, praying and being with these kids on Sundays are my energy sources.  Energy sources vary by the individual and together we find balance and can move forward towards bright futures both in that classroom and most importantly outside of it in our daily living.  

The children inspire us just as we inspire them; we just have to find out how to plug in.  I found out how, so can you.  It could be via mentoring children or an adult; it could be donating your time (not just your money) to helping others in need, it could be strategizing and implementing programs in your community to battle against drugs, crime or illness and homelessness. It can be all those things and more.  You just have to be willing to commit to it.

Find your energy source, locate your positive energy battery, plug in and move forward.

C. A. Griffin