I don't know how jello works...

Every week of youth group I try to have something fun to do that illustrates the point being made that week. Sometimes it works great and fits right in. Sometimes I try too hard to get it to fit and whatever we do is either too complicated or too dumb to be worthwhile. Sometimes I spend hours brainstorming and end up with nothing and do something entirely unrelated.

Tonight we are starting a series on Purity and I am just introducing the idea and kind of defining "purity" in spiritual terms. I am using a bit of illustration about physical purity and health and how that relates - so I figured I would go with a bit of old school cliche youth ministry and make them do something gross (impure). I'm not a big fan of that sort of thing so I won't be throwing a Happy Meal in a blender or anything. Sandy had the idea I am using actually - make them dig through a jello mold with their face to retrieve candy or something inside - the "impurities" as it were. Should be fun and delicious... unless chocolate and jello are gross together, which would make it all the better.

This here has nothing to do with purity. This here has to do with the jello production I just completed. I don't know how jello works. I know it has something to do with gelatin and science and I heard it comes from horse hooves. I don't understand why I have to add boiling water and stir for a long time before I add cold water. I don't know why it takes four hours of just sitting in the fridge to solidify and why that process doesn't really go backwards if you leave it at room temperature afterwards. I don't know why the side of the box said don't try to add pineapple and gingerroot and some other fruits because then it wouldn't work.

Jello works. You get a whole bowl of jiggly goodness by adding water to a little packet of powder and waiting.

None of what you put into it really resembles what you get out of it, and the process doesn't seem like it should work at face value, but it does. Trust me. Or trust the box directions and the millions of other satisfied customers.

In working as a youth minister it seems like putting it all together and helping students to grow as disciples isn't entirely unlike putting together jello. To the outsider it often seems like what is going on couldn't possibly combine to make something firm and lasting, but it does. Sometimes you would think adding pineapple would make it even better when it actually short circuits the process and ensures the change will never come.

When you know what is in the ingredients and the science of the process it all makes sense. When you know why adding certain things that seem right will spoil the whole thing and what those things are, it can start to click.

Oftentimes the most frustrating and confusing thing is the last step. Just let it set. Let it chill. Let it transform into something new and different. Let the outside forces you aren't directly control take effect. You have to wait to see if everything went together right and sometimes you have to start the process over. Sometimes you face the frustrating fact it just takes longer to solidify and pray that all the ingredients and processes you can't begin to grasp take hold.