“How are you, you?”

About a week ago I was sitting next to one of the students during a prayer service, and she leaned over to me and whispered, “Sometimes I want to ask you a question but I don’t know how to lead into it without it being awkward.”

I assured her I was fine with awkward; after all, I believe awkward births honesty.

“Well, it’s just… how are you, you?”

I smiled and cocked my head to the side, “What do you mean?”

“Like, you’re just so happy all the time and you just really care. About everyone.”

(If there’s one misconception in that statement, it’s that I’m happy all the time.)

I opened my mouth to respond but stopped myself. I was overwhelmed with joy and peace; I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. My heart was full.

All I could do was smile at her, “I’m me because you’re you.”

She furrowed her brow, confused.

I offered an explanation, “I wasn’t always this person that I am. Even just two years ago, I wasn’t this person. But because of you I’ve learned – and continue to learn – what it truly means to live, and love, like Jesus.”

I’m not sure if my response fully satisfied her wondering. Thinking back to the conversation, I don’t know if there’s really anything else I could have said.

For me, the simple fact is that working with teens has spiritually stretched and grown me into someone who cares about people. Students have transformed my religion: who I thought God was, and all the expectations and rules that followed.

Everyone should invest in the lives of younger generations.