an old post to prove to swickums that I'm not dead.
Godspeed...
a post from last week.
I turned on my computer at 8:30 this morning, in much better spirits than last year at this time. A year ago,on this day, I sat in front of computer, sore physically, but also emotionally. Four years of previous travel drama/injury drama/community drama - free trips all trumped by one weekend in Lake Ann. A year ago, I sat at my desk and though to myself, do I ever want to do that again? A year ago, I said to myself what good came from this? A year ago, I thought why don't my students get it? A year ago I sat in my office, wallowing, and blaming myself for things that I had no control over. I shed tears, and wondered if resignation was spelled with one "s" or two.
A lot changes in a year. I look back at least year's winter retreat and know in my heart that God did amazing things in that wekend in Lake Ann. As I walked around Lake Ann this weekend, on a drama free, injury free, travel issue free retreat, I wondered to myself, was last year the starting point for what God wanted to do this year? This weekend, things clicked. I can't explain it. Light bulbs went off in people's heads. Students got it. Last night, when I finally got Emery back to sleep at 3:30 a.m., I laid on her floor in tears, thanking Jesus for answering the prayers of many people for what had just happened this year in Lake Ann.
More and more, I am reminded that ministry being willing to get your hands dirty. Ministry is being willing to tell someone you care about, in love, that they'll never find the answer they're looking for where they are looking in right now. Ministry is being willing to stand by a person who got what they deserved, and help them pick up pieces while resisting the temptation to say "I told you so". Ministry is being willing to laugh together, cry together, and worship together, even when you know not everything is perfect and pretty. Ministry is being willing to face tough questions, even when you know that you can't answer every one.
Underneath our polished appearances are hurting people. Are we creating a community that invites others to take off their masks? Are we being Jesus, even when we have to face the hurts in other's lives head on, risking insult, attitude, and projected anger. Jesus, give me the strength to do this...
a post from last week.
I turned on my computer at 8:30 this morning, in much better spirits than last year at this time. A year ago,on this day, I sat in front of computer, sore physically, but also emotionally. Four years of previous travel drama/injury drama/community drama - free trips all trumped by one weekend in Lake Ann. A year ago, I sat at my desk and though to myself, do I ever want to do that again? A year ago, I said to myself what good came from this? A year ago, I thought why don't my students get it? A year ago I sat in my office, wallowing, and blaming myself for things that I had no control over. I shed tears, and wondered if resignation was spelled with one "s" or two.
A lot changes in a year. I look back at least year's winter retreat and know in my heart that God did amazing things in that wekend in Lake Ann. As I walked around Lake Ann this weekend, on a drama free, injury free, travel issue free retreat, I wondered to myself, was last year the starting point for what God wanted to do this year? This weekend, things clicked. I can't explain it. Light bulbs went off in people's heads. Students got it. Last night, when I finally got Emery back to sleep at 3:30 a.m., I laid on her floor in tears, thanking Jesus for answering the prayers of many people for what had just happened this year in Lake Ann.
More and more, I am reminded that ministry being willing to get your hands dirty. Ministry is being willing to tell someone you care about, in love, that they'll never find the answer they're looking for where they are looking in right now. Ministry is being willing to stand by a person who got what they deserved, and help them pick up pieces while resisting the temptation to say "I told you so". Ministry is being willing to laugh together, cry together, and worship together, even when you know not everything is perfect and pretty. Ministry is being willing to face tough questions, even when you know that you can't answer every one.
Underneath our polished appearances are hurting people. Are we creating a community that invites others to take off their masks? Are we being Jesus, even when we have to face the hurts in other's lives head on, risking insult, attitude, and projected anger. Jesus, give me the strength to do this...