The Pastor Picked Him Up

My oldest son is volunteering with our children's ministry coordinator (CMC) who is teaching a hip hop dance class to elementary school aged kids. It's a great opportunity and experience for him. Michael is really into dance and this whole world is completely foreign to me. What I do know about it comes from some wild days in the clubs (those stories would be for another kind of blog), and a bit of 'choreography' I did for a college and career choir performance back at Willingdon Church - when they weren't so big and professional. Anyway, this story is about Michael, or senior junior as we often call him.

In an effort to allow the sixteen year old to discover how to run his own life while I still have him under my roof, I did not try to organize how this volunteer experience would go. Our CMC assured me that he would sort it out with Michael. This proved to be a bad plan.

One week before the start of the class, senior junior informs me that the class starts at 3:30pm; his classes at school don't end until 3:20pm. His high school is a good fifteen minute drive to the church on a good traffic day - which will not happen very often in the middle of the week. Already I'm not happy and question him as to why he didn't inform the CMC that he has a conflict with the time. Apparently he didn't want to be difficult. He felt it would be better to just miss the last 20-40 minutes of his last class. No, not happening. This is further complicated by the fact that if I get called into work how is he going to get there at all? Senior Junior says that the CMC will pick him up - "its not a problem mom." After calling the CMC to inform him of the conflict, I'm still left with a situation that is unresolved. The time is not likely going to be able to be changed. The CMC still maintains that he will pick Michael up at 3:20pm to bring him to the church. OK, hands off then.

Now senior junior tells me that I need to bring him his 'stuff'. What 'stuff' do you need? My dancing clothes and shoes. He has dancing clothes? This I was not aware of. Just put it in your locker at school and then you'll have it with you when the CMC comes to get you. He now informs me that his lock is broken on his locker and he doesn't use it anymore. How long has that been the case? He doesn't know, but apparently it takes such a long time to get anyone at school to do anything about it, it's not worth trying to get it sorted out. AH!! Reluctantly I agree to take his backpack of 'stuff' in my van and bring it to the church as soon as I can. I keep thinking that if I get called in that day, he won't even get his 'stuff'. I do so much driving back and forth it seems stupid to drive to the church with his stuff only to have to turn around and get the girl from wrestling and then go back to get senior junior from the church again. Oh man, these kids need to take the bus.

Anyway, the day of the first hip hop class rolls around. I'm picking up the youngest boy at school and he's playing in the school yard with his buds. I'm chatting with some moms and then realize that it's time to go and get senior junior his 'stuff'. As I'm driving and about half way there my cell rings. I had forgotten to put the hands free mic on and so I'm scrambling to plug it in so I can answer - which is probably worse than just picking up my phone and answering it! Stupid legislation to stop us from talking on the phone! Anyway, it's senior junior; the CMC is not there yet. It's already 3:25pm. OK, don't panic, he's late. Just stay put, I'll go to the church and if he's in the gym then I guess I'll turn around and go get him. I get there and sure enough the CMC is in the gym starting the class. Now I'm mad. This is ridiculous. I start to head back to the van and our worship pastor calls out to me.
"Maria, don't worry about it. Pastor Doug has gone to get him."
What!?
Are you kidding! The Senior Pastor has gone to get my teenage son from school so he can help out with some class!? NO! Not only that, my son had arranged for a couple of his rag tag dance friends to come along as well. The Senior Pastor is picking up a few teenage boys because I didn't and the CMC couldn't. To top it all off, I hadn't even worked that day! I was at home, available to make the pick up myself. I was so embarrassed.

When they showed up I apologized for not getting Michael there. He was so kind and said not to worry. Ah... I tell you, what was I thinking? Maybe this story is more about me than the kids. Maybe it's not even funny. But I am laughing now.

Leaving organizational plans up to a sixteen year old boy... bad idea.