Friday, October 31, 2008
Followers gadget
Hey Everybody! I just added a feature that helps our partners and others who are interested in our ministry to keep up with what's going on. Look to the sidebar and click on Follow This Blog.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Yesterday I made contact with a few friends to schedule time to talk with them about supporting our ministry. I don't know what their plans are, but it was nice to be so well received. Support raising efforts have increased, but commitments have slowed. Even so, it felt good to get out and pound the pavement. Most everyone around here has been sick so we haven't gotten out much lately.
I have been told by friends to resist the urge to always talk about ministry in flowery terms and to be "real" when giving updates, so here's a dose of reality. I finished working with the school system last week. When I left, none of my collegues were around and because our kids were sick, Susan and I didn't go out as we had planned to mark this significant passing. It surprised me to find that my anticlimactic departure sent me into a minor depression. By Sunday afternoon, Susan sent me out to spend some time alone. I was instructed to return more joyful. I drifted around town and found the most satisfaction sitting on a bench with the sun on my back. It was a geat time of reflection and prayer. I realized during that time that I was not what I desire to be. I've tried to take a stance that in my work I wouldn't worry what people thought of me. I would just commit to doing a good job and let people think what they want. I had to acknowledge that my depression was primarily related to the long standing thorn in my flesh - people pleasing. No one was there, no one celebrated my efforts. It just ended.
I am excited about the road ahead, but also humbled by this situation and others like it. When I look to my own accomplishments, or in this case my desire to be recognized for them, they are never sufficient. They will always in the end disappoint. My savior is all-sufficient and ultimately satisfying.
I have been told by friends to resist the urge to always talk about ministry in flowery terms and to be "real" when giving updates, so here's a dose of reality. I finished working with the school system last week. When I left, none of my collegues were around and because our kids were sick, Susan and I didn't go out as we had planned to mark this significant passing. It surprised me to find that my anticlimactic departure sent me into a minor depression. By Sunday afternoon, Susan sent me out to spend some time alone. I was instructed to return more joyful. I drifted around town and found the most satisfaction sitting on a bench with the sun on my back. It was a geat time of reflection and prayer. I realized during that time that I was not what I desire to be. I've tried to take a stance that in my work I wouldn't worry what people thought of me. I would just commit to doing a good job and let people think what they want. I had to acknowledge that my depression was primarily related to the long standing thorn in my flesh - people pleasing. No one was there, no one celebrated my efforts. It just ended.
I am excited about the road ahead, but also humbled by this situation and others like it. When I look to my own accomplishments, or in this case my desire to be recognized for them, they are never sufficient. They will always in the end disappoint. My savior is all-sufficient and ultimately satisfying.
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