Rev. Tyler Heston, Minister to Youth
What we make space for says a lot about who we are.
I realized this clearly as I packed up everything I own to move to a new state and into a tiny studio apartment. The boxes of old photos and posters that I kept reminded me that I’m deeply nostalogic; the bags of clothing I donated to Goodwill showed me that I need a small-but-loved wardrobe, not dozens of t-shirts that I never wear.
We make space for more than material objects, though. An overdue phone call with a close friend or a sweet moment with family after a long day may prompt us to make more space in our schedules for the people we love. A stressful day at work might remind us to make for space for unwinding and relaxing.
Our spirituality is about making space, too. Prayer, at its core, is making space for God in our innermost being. When we pray, we engage in contemplation as “a way of opening ourselves to the ineffable,” as David G. Benner says. Even the smallest space we make for God can grow into something powerful; the realm of God “is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches” (Luke 13:19).
What we make space for says a lot about who we are—and about what God is up to in our midst.
Country Club Christian Church, I am so grateful that you all have made space for me to join this community as the Minister to Youth. This space you’ve made speaks something boldly about who you are. You are a church that believes in young people, knowing that youth are not the future of the church but are a crucial part of who the church is today. You know that youth ministry is not a peripheral task of the church but is integral to the work to which we are called.
I take seriously the gift you have offered me to serve as the Minister of Youth. It’s been a blast to meet and connect with so many of you already, and I look forward to the days, months, and years ahead of making space with you all for the youth and young people in this congregation. I cannot wait to see what God is up to and what grows out of our journey together.
