IT FELT... WEIRD.

I drove up to the building, and waited in my car - I was 2 minutes early. I had a bag full of prepared material, and the deoderant was freshly applied before leaving the house.

I made my way to the front of the room, familiarizing myself with the computer and projection equipment - I was prepared.

I hung newspapers up around the room, making sure the most dramatic headlines were in the most visible places - where's the tape... crap... well, I thought I was prepared.

The young people start coming in, and, despite the awkward hellos to these youngsters I barely know, the attitude I display is that of confidence.

Soon, we are diving in, and now I am on the other end of the discussion, knowing what it feels like when discussion questions hit blank stares.

And then it happens - participation - oh! breakthrough! I've still got work to do, don't get distracted...

Thoughts rush to my head - communicate truth, what is that scripture I memorized, what's that kid doing with his pen (no kid, don't do that...), focus, relax, do something funny, don't do something stupid...

And soon the night was over - things were getting packed up again, and sticky notes are falling from the wall.

It was weird, and felt foreign, but also, it felt good. It was my baptism by fire, and my ass is toasty, but I learned.