This one time...

I've got loads of cool stories.
Well... I have some good stories.
Okay, I admit, I have tucked within me a mediocre yarn that will slowly put you into a deep slumber.

But others have great stories. Tales of grander and wonderment. Anecdotes that are full of laughter and insight. Narratives that captivate and would make a fantastic movie.

And, all to often, these modern day story tellers are involved in youth ministries.

And they can story trump the kids.

If a kid has been to the Grand Canyon, the leader will share how they walked the Rockies barefoot and was the inspiration for 127 Hours.
If a kid ecstatically describes how they scored a goal in soccer, the leader will tell how they scored two... as the goalie.
If a kid shares that they got an awesome present for their 12th birthday, the leader will one-up them and tell what they received for their 13th birthday.

As you get older, you collect more stories. Some are really cool.
As a kid, particularly when dealing with primary aged children, their stories can be a rambling mess.

But a massive part of ministry with young people is listening. Showing concern with what is happening in their world. We communicate value with our ears.

I'm not saying that the leaders need to sit their like a mute lump, but sometimes we need to put ourselves, and our amazing frolicking tales, aside. We don't need to be the hero of every story.