Night of the shooting star!!

Youth Camp just ended last Friday!! Wow it was quite good and left me with quite a lot to think about. One thing etched in my mind, besides some of the activities and sessions, is one thing that happened on the last night of the camp.

On the last night of the camp, after all the activities were over, some of the youths were playing around in the bunks, some were in the canteen discussing things, some were talking and praying. As for me, I was walking around alone (yes, alone again) watching the various groups. As most of the youths were with their own batches, it made me think again about what I could do with my batch. It really felt like it would be easier for me if I just gave up on it, but that's not what I want to do. Somehow, from the way things have been happening, I feel as if God is telling me that there is hope for my batch, if only I would put in the effort.

Besides thinking about my batch, I also thought about those who didn't come for the Youth Camp. I spent quite a while thinking about this, and came up with a few names. Why didn't these youths come for the camp? Are they overseas, or is there something else to it? How many of these youths are struggling? I thought back to the youths who had shared to me about their problems while being in the Youth Ministry, and I realised how difficult my "job" really was. Caring for so many people at once, taking time to mix with them and talk to them, and sometimes going out with them; all this requires a lot of effort, although the rewards are quite priceless (you can't buy a person's trust, can you?).

As I was sitting down at a quiet spot thinking about this, I asked God to speak to me and just give me some encouragement. All of a sudden, I turned to look at the sky (no idea why) and I saw a shiny white streak that quickly faded. There's only one thing it could be. A shooting star!! Oh my goodness!! I had NEVER seen a shooting star my whole life until that night. It felt really magical, and I definitely got the encouragement I hoped for. What a night!

Who am I?

I wonder how many people have ever wondered this question. So often, we wonder why we're created, why we're here in this world. To some extent, this question also makes us think about our self-worth.

Who am I? I guess for quite a few years of my life, I was someone who felt rejected by people around me, I was someone who was always alone, I was someone with almost no sense of self-worth, I was someone that I felt the world didn't need.

Yet, after becoming a Christian and going through some of the toughest struggles in my life, God has given me a new sense of self-worth, that I'm someone who's not worthless at all. The song below is entitled "Who Am I", sung by Casting Crowns (a Christian band). When one of the worship leaders first sang this song in church, it was during one of the services, and he was singing it solo. That very first time I heard this song, it really moved me to tears, and up to now it still does.

For someone who has felt alone for so long, I know that sometimes I just want acceptance. This song, however, reminds me very strongly that even if no one around me cares the least about me, the all-powerful God who created the whole universe still cares deeply for me, even though I'm not even a speck compared to Him.

Who Am I:
Who am I
That the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I
That the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

BRIDGE
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

CHORUS
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapour in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who am I
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again
Who am I
That the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

BRIDGE

CHORUS

Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
Cause I am Yours, I am Yours