More Tips on Returning Back to Reality
5. Moses arrives at camp, and the people are fearful.
Moses is back, and with more than the stone replacements he’s carried with him. The first time Moses was on the mountain meeting with God, the people gathered up all of their gold, made a false-god icon, and worshiped it. Death and destruction followed.
Parents don’t know what to expect when their students return home. I remember my own “down from the mountain” experiences when I was in high school—I was usually singing new songs, telling jokes and stories, and generally bubbling over with excitement.
Now, as a parent myself, I wonder if my parents simply endured my excitement. We know that our kids are coming home with something. But the changes they’ve experienced can actually be threatening to the people at home. Parents are likely thinking, “They’re happy and excited, and I feel like I’ve been left behind. What did I miss?”
Question: What are our students bringing down the mountain with them? How can we help parents share in those gifts and experiences?
6. How does Moses respond to the people?
Moses covers his face when he/s with the people—his response is simple humility. He tells them what’s happened and shares the new instructions he’s received from God. But he does it veiled because the “brightness” of his countenance would blind them.
Intimacy with God is an overwhelming experience. When I’ve shared my own mountaintop experiences with God, I know that I’ve sometimes overwhelmed people back home. And when students come down from the mountain, they’re going home to people who can be “blinded” by their “countenance.” They did not hear the speaker. They did not sit up until 2 a.m. talking about their sins and struggles with others. And they didn’t paint houses or distribute food and clothing at shelters.
Students need to know they’ll be coming home glowing from their experience. Humility dictates that they “veil” their faces so they don’t overwhelm those who didn’t travel with them.
Question: How can we offer pragmatic ways for teens to share their experiences with those back at home, without overwhelming them?
7. Moses passes along a message from God.
Moses, sensing the fear and uncertainty of the people, simply speaks. And our students will need to think through how to communicate what God has revealed to them on the mountaintop. Knowing how and when to share their encounters with Jesus is a crucial skill for students as they re-enter everyday life.
Question: How can we help kids “practice” their “message from God” before they return home?
8. Aaron prepares for Moses’ return differently the second time around.
Aaron clearly learns from his previous errors. He prepares differently for Moses’ return from Sinai the second time. Likewise, we can communicate with parents about the purpose of the event in advance. We can help them understand our expectations and anticipate God’s transforming work in their kids’ lives.
Using social media and blog posts, we can share in real-time the week’s events. During the event, we can take notes and even prepare follow-up questions for parents to use when they talk with their kids.
Patience is key for returning back to reality. Our role is to equip both parents and students to share their experiences so no one sits alone in a room after an epic encounter with God.
This article John Mulholland was originally published on YouthMinistry.com, © Group Publishing, Inc.
