Every year I direct VBS, I keep a clipboard of important information. The worship set list, the daily schedule, our themes and lessons for the day. I try to memorize all the activities, announcements, etc, but I usually rely a bit on that clipboard. With each passing year, the clipboard becomes more and more important to me. So much so that this year I decided to write a note on it.
Of course. Today was the day I lost it….before opening program even began. I was so fixated on finding it, that I delayed starting worship in hopes that it would be found. But it wasn’t. And I remember singing the first song very distractedly and half-heartedly, and thinking to myself, Katey get your act together! It’s just a CLIPBOARD! Stay focused, stay present! Thankfully I was able to get a grip and moved through the rest of opening program without it.
Right before preschool worship started, and I needed my Pharoah Pharoah lyrics (which were conveniently attached to the clipboard), it was rescued from the water balloon making station I had left early in the morning. Whew, I was relieved! I felt peace. Everything was right in my world.
It’s funny how the littlest things can take hold of our attention, for better or for worse. This morning, it was clear that the clipboard had become my crutch. I risked missing out on the great things that God did through our time of worship and learning about Peter, the Rock, and his relationship with Jesus. But God’s grace was present and I got a grip.
How often do we live our lives that same way, frantic when something small is out of place, which distracts from the more important things that are right in front of us? More than the clipboard I am sure there are other things which I have placed value on in my life, that don’t really deserve the place of honor they are getting. What is it for you? Is it a smart phone? A clever facebook status? A favorite hobby? An unhealthy relationship or addiction to something that doesn’t edify, encourage or build up?
And how often do I find peace and order in the world, only when I am in control of everything, versus allowing God’s peace to transcend any order- or lack of order- that I can create (or cause) in my life?! Thank goodness that God is bigger than the clipboard problems!
So we started the day with the craziness of a missing clipboard, but we ended the day with a much more significant experience. A hornet invaded our worship space. Just as I was about to lead the kids in a rousing rendition of, “He is the Truth, the Life the Way!” Someone shouted out, “there’s a hornet on Esther’s back!” Oh dear. Not good. I jumped of the stage, ran to our little vbs-er (who was thankfully unaware of what was on her due to the volume of the music playing around us), and I called out to any “VBS leader who can handles bugs, please come assist me”. Either no one heard what I was saying, or no one was comfortable handling bugs, because I ended up leading Esther away from the rest of the kids, and told Jin to take care of it. His interpretation of “taking care of it” was swatting the bee on her back with a notebook. Nice. (Jin: we do appreciate the effort 
).
After quite a bit of commotion- which involved Jin running around the room chasing the hornet- we took a moment to collectively praise God that no one was injured (except the bee- R.I.P.), and proceeded with our closing song. I LOVE all the wild stories that VBS brings about! All in all, it was a beautiful day of growth and learning for everyone.
There are so many more stories I could share, but those were the standouts today.
~Katey