A Poem for My IMPACT Friends at Christmas

‘Twas Five Minutes Before IMPACT

By Nate Wilks

 

Twas five minutes before IMPACT, when all through the trailer,

Not a creature was stirring, not even Tom Taylor.

The praise team was scrambling to get in the door

Practice was to start nearly an hour before.

 

The students were cramming into each of their cars

With visions of fun games and maybe a delicious snack of candy bars.

And the leaders on the couch and I in my chair,

All huddled in my office for a last minute prayer.

 

When out in the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my office chair to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew pretty quick,

I pulled up the shades, what I saw made me sick.

 

The lights from the trailer bright as can be

Illumined the lawn, so that I could clearly see.

When what my wondering eyes saw below,

Paul Hammer was throwing a football at my window.

 

With a bunch of young men laughing like no one was there,

I knew there was trouble when I saw a head with blond hair,

Faster than lightning they scattered away,

I whistled, and shouted and called each by name.

 

Now Ross! Now Tommy! now Austin! now Paul!

Here Tates, Here Luke, Here Millars, Come All!

Inside the trailer, we’re about to start!

Don’t talk back Ross, stop being Smart!

 

As the clock struck 6:30 and the doors opened wide

Dozens of teenagers collected inside.

So to the couches they collectively flew

Came Eliza and Courtney and their friends, two-by-two.

 

And then, in an instant, I heard a loud noise

The praise team was practicing, Sara, Meredith and the boys.

As I spun my head and was turning around,

I was utterly mortified at the thing that I found.

 

There was Nolyn and Cassie putting on a play

Pretending to be me, telling people to “stay away!”

Kaylene, Rebecca and two others were running out of the door,

We have to go to the bathroom and we do that with four.

 

Shut Eet! Everybody! Welcome to IMPACT! Let’s be Merry!

Then Ann came up to explain the game and it sounded kind of scary!

Autumn would be blindfolded and eat slime from a jar,

While singing a melody, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star!

 

The teens drew close for their own chance to play,

Then when things got too crazy Daniel Tate began to pray,

After thirty seconds, the crowd finally settled down,

Then in an instant with an Amen, The Meek girls started to jump around!

 

Here I am to Worship! Was the tune the band played!

Kendra and Bethany stood by the door, making sure everyone stayed!

Singing loud, Singing joyfully, Singing in and out of tune with a Shout.

Worship music was over, So I said Junior High – OUT!

 

They spoke not a word, They just ran really fast,

They listened to the lesson, for one minute that did last.

A half hour flew by, then on to Senior High Teens,

Half were sleeping on the couch, but the boys were painting the trailer green!

 

Shawna asked great questions, like “when will we be done?”

“Yeah,” said Caleb, “We want to have fun.”

When the lesson was over, we met back up with a cheer!

You don’t have to go home, I said, “But you cannot stay here!”