Tonight I ran my first session with the young leaders from the cells and worship group of Landmark, the St Mark’s youth group. It seems Sarah has found a little niche for me!

WE looked at the difference between being a leader, and being a good leader. We looked at what the Bible had to say and we had a good amount of time to look at individual situations.

Incredible! I am sitting here in a semi-awe mist. These young people were fantastic. Some of them I have seen become Christians over the last 10 years and tonight was an incredible privilege.

I was struck by the high amount of honesty – they were open and honest, and on appearance it may have seemed brutal. On closer inspection, it was clear no one was offended, no one was taking or making anything personal; instead there was a clear desire, indeed a passion, to do things as well as they could. These young people wanted real feedback from each other so that they could genuinely develop their leadership skills. It was great to see the absence of personal agendas, which does sometimes seem lacking with adults.

I was struck by the maturity and awareness of these young leaders. They are able to reflect on what they do, analyse it and use it as a basis from which to work.

I was struck by the passion and excitement from these young people. The real sense of privilege that they have of being chosen by God to lead and do things. A real tangible excitement. I guess it kind of reminded me of me 20 years ago!

What happens to us – is it as simple s mortgage, family, bills that makes us forget our first love, our first excitement of doing things for God. Is it a bred familiarity that blinds us to the sheer amazingness of being chosen for a role. Is it something far deeper and more rooted in our selfishness and desire for ‘comfort’ that leads us to search for other riches alongside being chosen by God; whereas in the past we were more than happy, more than fulfilled, more than complete by the knowledge that we were where God wanted us to be and being used by him.

I enjoyed this evening. Nothing like a brush with reality to remind you of the important things in life!