Everyday in the U.S, 7,00 students drop out of school. 80% of first time drug use happens between ages 10-14 and between 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 85% of all juvenile crimes take place between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

When I first heard these statistics, it hit me like a knockout punch. I am mostly privately educated with the exception of my time in public high school. It was never a question of whether I would graduate high school or even college. I have the great privilege of my parents enduring marriage, a strong church family and a litany of mentors and friends to guide me to name of a few of my blessings. Drugs, pre-maritial sex and juvenile crime were certainly doors that I hadn't considered though many of my peers did. I always dismissed this experimentation as a phase and as something other kids did. But as I sat at eighteen, fresh out of high school in a class room with a group of friends, these sobering statistics reminded me not of my friends and peers who had indulged and paid the steep consequences, but of two middle school little girls that I love dearly: my sisters. As six and eight graders in a public school world, Ella and Amelia face these things everyday though they certainly have a more advantages than most.

There is a God and He is good.

Every time Paul Anderson, John Lubbers or Seth Maust talk about middle schoolers, and how they are falling through the cracks, I picture faces of my sisters. I even reflect back to ,my own middle school angst, to the years I wrestled with insecurity and rebellion. I didn't know quite what I signed up for when I agree to an interview as a Five Star Coach almost three years ago, but it has been one of the most impactful and meaningful decisions I have ever made. See at Five Star, we proactively challenge our students to own their academic success, we instill character values, help foster potential and offer opportunities for students to practice all they have learned. I have seen so many student's lives changed by the passion and love of their coaches simply showing up every week for two hours and being fully present. It's astonishing the profound effect of people who are just willing to show up and love those around them.

Paul and John, well being Paul and John, which if you can't tell by this photo is super high energy, more than slightly strange and basically some of the best,most hilarious humans God has ever created.

For me, I have mentioned how joining Five Star has been one of my best decisions to date, that begins to scratch the surface of how much my life has been irrevocably altered by this community. See three years ago, I was freshman in college. I was so far home, from my community and from everything I knew and thrived in for so long. I felt lost adrift searching for God's purpose in my life and way out my depth. I had long struggled with self-worth and insecurities, and I was definitely homesick. They adopted me and all my zany quirks if you know me well than you know that I have more than a few. They saw that you have to be at least slightly quirky to love working with middle schoolers. As I mentored, encouraged and spoke life into my students, the same was being done with me, This overwhelming love and acceptance shed a few of my lingering insecurities and cast away many of my fears especially that of heights. Thanks again Paul and Bryant for challenging me to do the ropes course and failing to mention that challenge was coming ahead of time!

Paul after Several pies in the face.

I have never been so profoundly loved by Christians in the midst of my imperfections, unwavering believed in all my potential and purpose, and challenged albeit many times uncomfortably past mediocrity. I have learned to embrace fearless authenticity and be all in in every aspect of my life no matter how ridiculous I may look.I found myself becoming the person I was created to be, and I am certainly still a work in progress in that area, but by breaking my heart for my team, my sweet middle school girls, it broke so many other parts of me. I let go of the fear of others thoughts on me that so easily cripples, let go of the deep the deep need for control and approval that so ensnares, and I began to see myself as God saw me. I have seen God move and be be present in my life and in others in so many ways in these past years, Thank you dear friends for leading me to engage my faith at a deeper level, for all of prayers, the hugs, the late night calls of panic as I was totally unsure how to take the next step in my life. You have pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of, challenged me to the end of my rope so I could lean on and trust not only you all, but on God. Katie, Bryant, Paul, John, Seth, Mia, Aubrey and Adrianne, thank you so much helping my take my life to a whole other level as we say!

It's been this constant growth and exercise in trust, in humility, and vulnerability to name a few things. It's a beautiful redemption of pain and struggle, of loss and brokenness, of fear and rebellion by the glory and abundant grace of Jesus.

I can never thank enough for walking through this with. My words fail to capture the depth and divine impact that you have had on my life and on others. My words are simply inadequate, a hollow fragment, a shadowy glimpse.

Thank you.

Thank you for so much more than I could ever hope to express given the constraints of human lingual capabilities. Thank you for always showing up and serving, for loving, and for believing in that each of us can live to the life the fullest in the arms of the King. I love you all!

So what the take home piece for you?

Get involved in your community. Be active conduits of grace. Be proactively meeting the needs of your neighbors, the ones that see and hear and live along side you. That is the summation of the Gospel, loving God and loving others.

Whether that's two hours a week a middle school coaching kids or paying for the meal behind you in the drive thru. Whether it's volunteering in your church nursery, baking a dinner for a sick family, grabbing a cup of coffee with a neighbor or even supporting a child overseas. Cultivate intention, empathy, humility and hospitality within and slosh out love and grace to those whom come in to contact with you. Be willing give, to serve and to sacrifice. I promise you that you will never regret going the extra mile for someone else, You never stand before God, and be told "I wish that you had held more back for yourself".

Aubrey, Abbie, Addrianne, and I as we are basicly #Friendgoals.

If you want to see change in your life and in community, be active not passive. Change happens when we stop playing not to lose, but we take charge of the game.

So have empty hands.

Give of your time, your talents and your money.

Give of all you have been so profoundly blessed with.

Give joy, kindness, encouragement and hope.

Give it all away in reckless abandonment for Him who is in all things and by Him all things hold together.

PS Friends, if you want to get involved in Five Star Life, follow this http://www.fivestarlife.org/