My favorite part of a day off is the night before.

This past weekend I went to the Student Venture Fastbreak Conference with the Christ Community youth group. Student Venture is the High School ministry of Crusade. Fastbreak is a conference I went to when I was in High School that is one of two main conferences of Student Venture. The Christ Community youth group is a group of 3 guys and handful of girls that I help lead, and will probably continue to help with for the remainder of my time here in Gainesville.

On Friday three cars left Gainesville and headed for Palm Coast Golf Resort. The conference went through Sunday and lasted till Monday afternoon. When we arrived, I impressed the high schoolers with how many people I knew. Slowly their awe of the sheer numbers I could call my friend, turned to feelings of neglect. They would often ask, "where have you been?" It didn't take long for them to figure out that I didn't want to spend all of my time with them. When I was spending time with other friends, feelings of guilt would creep in. My ability to balance my time between my friends was tested, and I can't say that I did very well. This struggle drained my energy and left me bleary eyed and weak at the end of each day.

The last night the kids shared what they got out of the conference. One shared that he had been faking the christian life and wanted to hear from the leaders how we were sure of our salvation. Some others shared how they wanted to do things differently when they got back home. My heart swelled, and with the combination of my exaustion, I cried.

The last few minutes of the drive home, I was aching for my bed. To feel the soft sheets tickle my bare skin. To feel the cool pillow envelope my head. When I got home I found Anne on the computer trying to watch class. Sleep that desparately wanted to take me was held off a little longer. After a little help from Jason, Anne sat contentedly in the chair with some earphones and watched class. I crawled into bed and my heart beat quickly from the small exertion of climbing into bed and I waited as my heart slowed. Conciousness was slowly replaced by sleep, and the last thought that I had before I gave myself completely over to it was this one beautiful and peaceful thought:

No class tomorrow