Hugging Dad

We had finally been invited to perform at the Youth Specialties LA Summit in San Jose, Costa Rica. Youth Specialties is one of the most prestigious international ministries for the Christian youth in Latin America, and our heart is exactly there, with the teenagers in Latin America!

We rocked the house down, we projected video on the screens, we jumped, sang, laughed and encouraged the kids. We closed our performance with a well known worship cover with a rock arrangement. But the best part, the part I look forward to at every performance, is to hear, talk and pray with the kids offstage.

After our performance we made ourselves available for everybody as usual. Some kids came for CDs, pictures and for a little conversation. Then this kid came to me, hugged me and said “thank you, Carlos”. I was a little puzzled and said “sure, you’re welcome, but may I ask what you are thanking me for?”

Josh, told me of another conference held a couple months before, it took place during a cool, almost rainy afternoon in the parking lot at Oasis de Esperanza, the biggest church in the San José. We had performed at that conference too.

He told me that during those days he had realized the man he’d believed his father wasn’t his biological father. He then understood the distance and lack of communication there’d always been between both of them. Josh’s real father was a wealthy guy with his own family and, it was obviously hard for him to let it out, the hardest part of all was realizing his conception had been "a mistake".

That day at the conference Josh was feeling lonely. He understood God was his Heavenly father, but it was hard to believe and even harder to really feel it. He had asked God for a father's hug that day, that was all, a hug from his Heavenly Father before the conference was over for the day.

“Carlos, you gave me the hug I had asked for that day, right after you guys performed that afternoon". We both hugged again and thanked God for his love and faithfulness.

Lately God has been calling me to become a father figure for several kids and adults that have come my way. It is something I never asked for, being single I even resisted the idea and responsibility involved in becoming a mentoring, father figure. But I have to confess it feels good if you just let the Holy Spirit flow.

My dear mentor wrote a song a while ago that I have adopted for myself. It says “If I leave this world tomorrow, Lord I want to leave your love behind. There’s too much pain and misery, too much heartache too much crying”.

I love rocking the house down. I like singing and I love most of the things involved with concerts, recording and music, but beyond the time, resources and energy spent in our music or ministry what will remain in the end is His love. His love is what changes the world and people’s lives forever.

Above and beyond everything I do, I want to leave HIS love behind.