First Lock-In

February 8, 2008 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Religion, Youth 

I’m a little nervous.

I’ve been working with the youth at the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville for about a year now.  In that time I’ve been there for them at regular Sunday night meetings, gone on one overnight retreat at Camp Johnsonburg, and worked and taught the Confirmation Class.  All of those were easy – it was like falling off a log for me.  Even the teaching didn’t cause anxiety – I knew the material and knew the confirmands and I knew it would go well (and I think it did).

Here’s the thing.  We’re having a Senior High Lock-in Saturday night to Sunday morning.  The PCOL lock-in tradition seems to be a “no sleep” tradition.  I believe that space is provided for sleeping but it sounds like the majority of the youth will be staying up all night.  I’m OK with that.

What worries me is that I haven’t pulled an all-nighter …. ever.  No, that’s not true.  I did it once in high school – our history class (and assorted others) did an all-night simulation of world governmental relations that ran from 6pm to 6am (and only did that once – the next year it was held on successive evenings).  Even in college I made sure I got at least a few hours sleep every night.  The youth retreats that I did in high school always had a sleep period built in.

I’ll be fine.  The retreat starts at 9pm, so I suspect the adults need to be there about 8pm (I haven’t actually been told yet).  It ends at 8am.  I’m planning to take a serious nap on Saturday afternoon, have nothing planned for Sunday, and I’m taking Monday off from work to reset my sleep cycle.  I’ve volunteered to chaperone the sleeping room (assuming that can be done while asleep).  I just might be tired and a bit cranky at the end.

It should be fun!

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