This may be the most moving thing I have ever witnessed and it happened just an hour ago after Youth Bible Study at Wednesday Worship:

The last words of the praise song faded and Cathy, our Youth Pastor stepped in front of the group of about 40 Youth to introduce the speaker for the night. She explained how this young woman had come to her and requested a few minutes of time to speak to the group before she heads for college. We expected Jessica, the popular cheerleader, to stand and step forward. But it was Kayla who arose.

Kayla had always been somewhat of a misfit but was accepted and loved anyway... but was she really going to speak in front of everyone? She awkwardly held the mic to her mouth and announced that her freshman year had been the worst of her life. She had been teased and ridiculed mercilessly at school but had endured it. She and her younger brother had started coming to our youth program a year or so later and she told how she felt accepted here because people talked to her. I don’t remember anyone really ever taking much of an interest in Kayla but the kids were always kind. She stumbled as she spoke and repeated herself but it was heartfelt. She ended with the thought that her freshman year was an awful memory and she sure hoped that her freshman year of college was not a repeat of that.

I’m sure the kids were thinking that they could have done more than just talk to her, trying to remember if they even had talked to her. But I guess for a kid who is timid and weird and constantly ridiculed just finding a group who will chat and listen for a few minutes is appreciated in ways we can‘t imagine.

Cathy sat down beside Kayla and spoke to the gathered youth. She said that Kayla had wanted to tell them about the bullying that happens and how bad it feels and how important it is to not be thoughtless with our words, careless with our comments. For some people, the words and ways that kids talk to each other can cut deep. Most of the kids in the group wouldn’t tease or bully but they have all witnessed it.

A hand slowly went up at the back of the group and another of the graduating seniors stood. It was Andy. He was a popular young man with strong convictions and deep faith. A boy known for his integrity as well as for the fact that he had been Homecoming King. He, too, was heading for college soon. His eyes were glassy as he spoke softly. “When I was a Freshman, Kayla was in my Social Studies class and she really was made fun of a lot." His voice broke and he faltered but went on "I didn’t do anything about it” There were tears in his eyes. His voice trembled but he continued “Kayla, I’m truly sorry.” He sank back to the floor and wept softly in silent prayer.

We quietly gathered all the kids leaving for college into our middle and huddled around, Kayla and Andy arms around each other. All hands reaching in to touch the shoulders and heads and backs of these beloved friends who were moving on to the next phase of their lives. And we lifted them all in prayer recgonizing their beautiful potential, lives filled with hope and promise.

Andy’s pure and heartfelt confession in front of all his peers, his sincere repentance and Kayla’s perfect nonjudgmental acceptance of the love he offered is more than my weak words can describe. But know that all of us right there learned more than we had from a fifty Sunday sermons and righteous speeches.

Remorse, Strength, Repentance, Compassion, Confession, Love, Sin, Gratitude, Forgivenss, Joy, ...

How often have we known the right thing to do but stood paralyzed? Not participating in the wrong but not preventing it either? Not going to the aid of the victim or offering comfort? Do we even recognize our own participation in the evilness of it?

How many opportunities have we passed up to stand and make our sins right with those we've sinned against? I'm quite sure that Kayla never thought of Andy as being one of her oppressors...but he knew.

We know.