The Smallest Ant

 There was once an ant that was smaller than the other ants. They made fun of him, saying that he was always the last one home. They even made a song about it. 'The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah/ the ants go marching one by one/ the littlest one stops to suck his thumb.' This didn't make the little ant happy, but he went along with it. He didn't know what else to do. One day the colony was buzzing with news. There was going to be a Gathering soon! The smallest Ant wanted to crawl far into the earth and never come out. He hated Gatherings. This year would be no different.

As each colony made their way to the Place of Gathering, the littlest ant was joined by the other stragglers. Some were old enough that they shouldn't be making the journey, but didn't care. However, one day he realized that there was another like him- an ant too small to be any good. He called out to this other ant, and was ignored (for the second ant was too shy to face anyone properly) This did not deter him. Everyday he would come alongside this other ant, until eventually he could not be ignored. "What do you want!" the second ant said, his six knees were shaking as he spoke.

"My name is Andy," he smiled. "Whats your name?"

"Moby." He gave Andy a suspicious glance.

They traveled to the Gathering in silence after that. Each absurdly happy to have some form of companionship. Once they arrived they looked at the millions of ants gathered to hear all the stories from the past year. There was a wall memorial specially for those who were drowned by the screaming two-leg monsters. The smaller giants. The carpenter ants worked security, and the red ants did the drinks. No one could mix a water-drop with as much precision as a red ant. Just the perfect mix of minerals and honey. The 'general population' (which was what both of their colonies were thought of) held various positions- from ones of power all the way down to being cleaners. The ants had once tried to higher flies to clean, but that had gone as well as the time slugs had been allowed to attend the Gathering. Needless to say, Gatherings were now strictly monitored. The List got you in, and the Badges kept you in.

Andy and Moby took their badges and found a deserted corridor to wait out the gathering. They didn't dare go for drinks, for fear that the guards would kick them out (this had happened on one occasion to Andy. He had been forced to wait out the rest of the Gathering on the surface where the small giants tried to trample him.) Andy and Moby could still hear and see what was going on, and were entertained by the antics of the others. But they stayed out of the main hubub. They were content to just exist. At the end of the Gathering they promised to meet again the next year, and the year after. "I've never been around another person who doesn't want to socialize!" Andy said. "It was a lot of fun!"

"Me too." Moby squeaked. He still wasn't used to speaking.

The two small ants went home, a little bit happier than before. Though they would still dread parties and socializing, it was nice to know that they didn't have to do it alone.   

THE END

This is a bit of an exaggerated view of the life of an introvert. This past week I was 1 of a 100+ people at a YWAM Gathering, and it was very much an interesting experience. Once I would have been like the ants, Andy and Moby- unable to speak, unwilling to get invested with people that I might never see again. What about you? How well do you love people? I ask because that was one of the main topics this past week. How can we, as representatives of Christ, show His love to the world?

The Challenges of an Introvert (and semi-(un)-helpful ways to overcome them)

1. Meeting new people. 

If you are a person who doesn't like change, and new people are one of the hardest changes- don't fear! If I can meet NEW PEOPLE, you can too!

2. Crowds.

Don't let the crowds swallow you whole. Find someone who looks as lost as you. Chances are they are introverts too.

3. Extroverts. 

Sometimes the Introvert will grow jealous of of an Extrovert. Especially when they are doing something an Introvert wants to do, but could never, ever, ever pull off- for any reason, imagined or otherwise. My advice: stop comparing yourself with the Extrovert. At the same time, don't be an ant. Don't just watch other people- what is the fun of that? Join the party, because each person has something to bring.

Things I have learned and or noticed:

1. Its easier to pray for a city than to talk to the inhabitants...

2. Bumbilayla (okay, no idea how to spell that....but its a song. With a dance.) And it is AWESOME. So much fun!

3. When packing for a week: pack wisely. Ask God for advice if you need to. And bring more than one pair of jeans.

Prayer Requests:

1. Another Team came back with us from the gathering for a week of outreach here. Please Pray that they would have a fantastic time, that they would experience God in new ways. And anything else that comes to mind. 
If you have specific prayers, leave them in the comments and I will show them!


2. Pray for our second outreach week to be memorable. That we would put to use the things we learned this past week at the gathering.




PHOTO CORNER *unedited...*

A duck. On a Bridge. I think he needs a name....

A pirate ship. Isn't it awesome?

This was actually not at the gathering, but in Liverpool. I love doors. And Arches. And old churches. Maybe I will share more about that sometime.