That is Mark! You've probably heard me talk about him if you've been around me for more than 12 seconds. He is 5 years old and has the best sense of humor of any kid i've ever met. If you asked me if i loved my job, right now i would say absolutely. If you asked me if i wanted to keep this job for the rest of my life, i would have to say absolutely not. I haven't figured out what I want to be when i grow up and i'm wondering, when is the last possible day you have to decide that? When I graduated 5 months ago, i really wanted to change the world. I thought seriously about joining the Peace Corp because what better way to serve people and live adventurous with no Wal-Mart or Mcdonald's for a couple of years. As Christians we all want to go on these mission adventures. I've been telling God since May 10th, "God, if you want me to go to the very last peice of land on the planet earth to live and serve and tell people about the gospel, just tell me and i'll go." The thing that i hate about myself is, why am i not that enthusiastic about Rock Hill, South Carolina? My current job is just as much a missionary adventure as Africa would be. I get to hang out and give as much attention as possible to 16 wonderfully obnoxious kids everyday. And everyday God says, "Take care of these kids." Twice a week I get to leave those 16 kids and coach another 16 different kids in soccer. When i'm there God says, "Teach these kids how to play soccer and encourage them as much as you can. This is what I want from you right now."
In the movie Evan Almighty, Evan wanted to change the world. It was even his campaign slogan. But instead of taking on the world, God gave him one little opportunity to be obedient. He didn't change the world by building an arc, but he did what God asked. So instead of looking into my next job and my future so durn hard and wanting to take over the world, i want to be obedient to the small little responsibility of living in Rock Hill and love on the small little people that He has put before me. And if we could just grasp how big the world actually is, we probably wouldn't want it anyway.
1 comment:
AMEN! I love that you quoted Evan!
But that was a struggle I had for a long time. I felt that there were a bunch of people wondering why I didn't jump at the chance to go to summer project, or jump to feed the children of Africa, and saw that staying here to minister to American kids was a waste.
But it's what God has filled my heart with passion for. I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be. I pick up on the pains that these kids have, they seek me out wanting to share their hurt, and their questions. And while I don't have the answer just me being here I feel speaks volumes to them rather than anything I could say.
Your presence with these kids is the biggest ministry they can receive from you.
God calls some to far away missions, God calls some to stay at home with their kids, God calls some to the pulpit, God calls some to the office cubicle.
It could be 2mos or a 20 year struggle, but it's important to keep listening for God's calling.
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