Wednesday typically is my longest day. Working in "ministry" is a tough "job" on Wednesdays. I put ministry and job in parentheses because, I really don't see ministry as a job, more of a passion that has been made more like a job in many ways that makes it sort of bureaucratic in a way that I think it shouldn't be. To me there really shouldn't be a separation in our lives like we typically make it, i.e, church life; work life; family life, but that's another blog all together. So I find myself pretty worn out at the end of the day on Wednesday as my day usually goes like this:
7:10 SGA Meeting at Mobile Christian
8:30 Prepare Wednesday nights message, activities, and worship time for "the calling"
11-12 Eat lunch with someone/somewhere
1 pick up any supplies needed for "the calling"
2 do all media presentations for "the calling"
4 begin setting up the gym for "the calling"
5:30 call and order food for "the calling"
6 pick up food
6:30 start "the calling"
9 head for home to be with my family, who are already in bed
So that is a very basic shot of what Wednesday's look like for me, sometimes they are different, but that is typical.
Yesterday, my Wednesday was very different. We piled a group into a few trucks with chainsaws and other exciting motorized equipment and headed to Pascagoula, MS, seeking some way to live out our faith. After sitting on I-10 for about two hours we made it to Pascagoula. We spent the day working on everything from cutting trees, to helping stock a food supply and hanging up clothes. We worked with a group of Christians from Calhoun, GA and they were all about business. It was really awesome! I have never been so encouraged by what I saw yesterday, it was so neat to see people not asking really important questions like, "Do you think it is sinful to clap in worship?" and just work!
While I was encouraged by the resolve of the people in Pascagoula, I was also saddened to see all of the wreckage, all of the pain and hurt. It was hard. Mostly though peoples spirits were high. It was a great trip and so much fun to help. (Isn't it weird that when you are trying to serve God it just seems so fun?) I came home to a stark reality. We got home and I cleaned myself up and got to the church building just in time for "the calling."
Ken did a great job focusing our group on something really special and then we played a game.
What hit me was how good it is. It is so good to have a gym to have "the calling" in even though I complain that the space is too big, allows too many interruptions and is hot and hard to work in. It is really nice to be able to spend my whole day planning for this on Wednesday because it is a really big deal. I am thankful that at the end of the day I am weary and tired, just as I was last night. I was exhausted when I finally got home last night, but it was the best tired I have ever felt!
Father, thank you, thank you , thank you. You are here among us encouraging us and holding us up. I am so glad I can be tired in you, that my times of what I consider exhaustion are my times of allowing you to recharge me. Thank for letting me do that, you are so good to me. Please bless all of those that I didn't meet and see yesterday, my heart aches for them. Allow them to find true refuge in you! Recharge and refuel them, just as you do me, when I allow you to. Thanks for hearing me. Amen
Jason Retherford said...
CL,
Thanks for updating us to the work that's taking place in the Gulf Coast. Man, I get so sick of hearing on the news all the negative stuff, I wish CNN would have aired the work ya'll did.
I am glad that you were able to help and especially you had a home to come back too.
I'd like to bring a group of teens/adults to come help in whatever way we can. Got any ideas?
Thanks for being a servant!
Malia said...
Thanks for the update. I've been thinking about ya'll, praying, hoping and looking for a blog update everyday!
I'm so glad that you got to go and actually do something to help people most affected by this disaster. I just hope what we have done and will continue to do will help someone, somewhere.
Niki said...
Way to go puting your faith into action! :) I agree with Jason - THAT is newsworthy!!
I don't miss the tired Wednesdays of full time youth ministry, and I feel your pain. I'm grateful for the tiredness that does come from serving others, but I think our Wed. nights became a dog and pony show for the adults in the congregation. Sorry to be so skeptical. Our best times with our kids were just hanging out at our house, at Spangles or Steak N Shake, (fast food restaurants in KS & IN), and in the parking lot before or after Wednesday night classes. That's when the real talking and discussing of faith issues happened - when they didn't feel the pressure to perform and have the "right" answer.
Back to helping out in MS, that's just awesome that you get to be a physical part of the restoration and healing. I can send money, but you are actually the hands and feet doing the work. For that I am so thankful. I wish we had the opportunity to come down there, especially because we would like to help the Martins with whatever they need help with. We're still waiting to hear from them again as to where to send money. Chris, I'm glad you were able to go. I'm sure it has changed your life. Check out my friend Adam's post from Friday to see how he was able to help in San Antonio. He's hilarious! www.adamcopeland.blogspot.com
God bless you and your family!
k2 said...
i like the new look, dude. its sleek, and clean. it kinda looks familiar, too.
