Guiding my son’s confirmation class on their faith journey has filled me with gratitude.
I think teenagers are amazing! In the near future these humans will be our doctors, contractors, teachers, and car mechanics. It is so fun to watch them learn and grow during this stage of their lives. For the past three years, I have spent Wednesday evenings with the youth at our church, specifically with my son and his confirmation classmates. And I have enjoyed every minute of it.
On Reformation Sunday, Gethsemane’s high school class of 2024 was confirmed. My experience with this group of seven teenagers has been the most rewarding volunteer experience. As their Confirmation Guide, my goal was to build a strong faith community; my personal weekly message to them was an improvised quote from Ephesians 4:2-3 “Be patient, be gentle, be humble, be loving.”
This class is a unique combination of teenagers — athletes, music makers, diverse thinkers, and diplomats. They are loyal, faith-filled, and are devoted to their families and friends. Over the course of our time together, we have each gotten through some tough stuff as well as celebrated individual accomplishments. It has been a blessing to witness them question new information and experience “a-ha moments.”
The highlight of my volunteer commitment was our wilderness trip this past summer. Navigating the obstacles brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges of getting all of our family calendars to align, made it almost an impossible task to schedule. Fortunately, we were able to all attend.
Together, we hiked in the forest, went paddle boarding, hung out in our home-made hammock village, played cards, star gazed, played flashlight tag, took a sauna together, and pranked each other. We worshiped together, discussed our favorite bible verses, survived a ropes course, dipped our toes in Lake Superior, listened to each other sleep, shared meals and lived together.
Confirmation is a three-year faith journey for our youth. I was lucky to journey alongside them. I am grateful to my son, Max and his classmates Jackson, Bennett, Abi, Millie, Chloe, and Callie, and our junior guide Sophie, for having me along for the ride. Forever, I will be grateful for this experience with these patient, gentle, humble, and loving human beings.
KATY TESSMAN 