Our version of the Dundies

Last night was our last official youth group meeting of the summer. Some of the youth requested we do a 3 hour night, and use the extra time to have an Awards Ceremony, similar to The Dundie's of the hit show "The Office." I obviously obliged, if for no other reason than 3 youth took their leadership initiative seriously. But I also was excited to do some sort of awards ceremony.

I've done this in previous years as an RA, youth director, and college intern. No season is officially complete without an awards ceremony.

One of our more creative youth came up with most of the awards, passed them on to me, and I passed them on to another youth who put them on paper plates. High end operation for sure.

Of course they were hilarious as expected. But the question was whether or not they would be well received. After all, my awards ceremonies tend to highlight and emphasize the more embarrassing aspects, events, or personalities of the recipient. For instance one of the kids whom we often forget is even in the room, received the most outgoing/center of attention award. One who never comes got "most committed" (someone had to accept on his behalf). My personal favorite was the "I love Florida football, but who the heck is Tim Tebow" award given to someone who wears University of Florida gear but knows next to nothing about the team.

We all laughed with one another. And that's a direct result of the gospel. We love and accept one another, in spite of all our idiosyncrasies, shortcomings, annoyances, etc....We should be able to laugh with one another because there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. If we can't laugh at ourselves, then we really are missing something of the gospel. If we can stand faultless before the throne of grace, then who cares if we receive the "I'm thirsty, but not thirsty enough to drink the full 12 oz can" (for the youth who always leaves the can half full/empty) or the "Loudest talker (yours truly)."