Linchpin – Pages 231-236

Wow, we are at the end. I have loved reading all your posts and hearing more of your heart as we try to do this thing we call Mission Adventures. I feel a little bit of pressure, as the last blog post in this series (I know Phil has plans for the future), to sum up this blog well. Anyone that knows me will know that writing is not my strong point (maybe the reason I married a writer so he would do it for me). So here goes:

As I read this book, especially these last few pages, I often found myself thinking I am so glad that I have a job that makes a difference, that changes people etc. That I often found myself agreeing with what Seth has written without asking the really hard questions about the area’s of my life that are stuck in a rut. A few years ago my husband went through burn out. It had to be the scariest time of our ministry, where we really started to ask some really hard questions about ourselves, each other and the way we do ministry. We realised some facts: My husband joined YWAM when he was 17 straight out of high school (and has never left) and I joined YWAM when I was 18 one semester through my degree and decided not to return to my degree. In that moment of burn out my husband especially, but me as well, had given 10 years to YWAM and wasn’t qualified for anything else.

Now I realise if we were thinking clearly there are other jobs we could do and we aren’t in YWAM because we have no other option but it was a scary thought. The reason I tell you this is because I think sometimes we can hear young people saying they want to live for God or be involved in missions and then give all these reasons why it isn’t possible, parents, money, education, church support etc. and we- or at least I can down play the very real concerns they have. And yet I have just as many excuses and reasons why I continue in the rut I do. I know I need to continue to seek and change the area’s of my life in which I am living “average” and not presuming that because I am working for an amazing ministry that doesn’t do things the way the world does that I can ride that coat tail and not live the way God created me to live.

The result of this art, these risks, the gifts and the humanity coming together is both wonderful and ironic. The result of getting back in touch with our pre-commercial selves will actually create a post-commercial world that feeds us, enriches us and gives us the stability we’ve been seeking for so long.

I really like this whole chapter, “Making the Choice.” There’s a lot in it that I can identify with … making your own agenda and challenging the status quo. I like when Godin talks about responding to the opportunities and challenges of the outside world, because it really is our choice in how we respond that dictates whether or not we are linchpins.

Cheers and thanks Laura

One of the parts that stick out to me the most is “More Cowbells” (funny skit!). Godin says, “The funny this is that learning how to add joy, create art, or contribute humanity is a lot easier than learning how to pay the guitar. For some reason, we work on the technique before we worry about adding the joy.” I can relate to this, because I like to distract myself by perfecting a technique and use imperfection as an excuse to hold back. It’s easier than stepping out and singing loudly when I’m not sure if I’m hitting the right notes, or being personable and helpful even when I know I don’t have all the answers.

It’s a challenging chapter for me, because my tendency is to never step out, never sing loud, and even when I’m “sure of myself” to move forward very cautiously. But if I let those things rule my life I’m just defending the status quo. And even worse, I’m not living up to the potential God gave me.

All in all, it was a good year.  God is good and His grace for me (this year
especially) was sufficient.  Since my papi passed in February, I have been
on a roller coaster of emotion, not always interested and passionate about
what I’m doing.  Moving forward in my own life has at times been a real
challenge.  It was an ironically fascinating concept to teach on.

Our staff and SOE students were awesome this year.  The training director
here (Jeff) and I continue to brainstorm ideas for integrating the two
programs.  We are excited for the future of our (new school) SOMD’s
involvement with Mission Adventures.

Hope everyone is enjoying the fall.  Blessings in the work you do!

Bjorn

The first thing was a very small part of talking about thankfulness and receiving gifts. Godin talked about when you receive a gift don’t leave it at just, “Thank you.” He gave a bunch of examples of things you could say such as “Thank you and I just blogged about what you did” (I liked that example since I am in fact blogging, right now). Anyways I thought that was pretty rad because as we who are in YWAM practically live off of gifts, it is important to remember to be giving back accordingly and to the same degree. Whether this means making our newsletters boss, or sending a gift once in a while, or even just calling and thanking our supporters, we need to remember not to take generosity for granted. I suppose if you think of being “indispensable” what’s to stop a supporter from pulling away from our non appreciating selves and supporting someone who is appropriately thankful?

The second thing was about “seeing clearly.” Godin wrote about keeping a clear mind. I loved how he gave examples of trying to work and a car horn is going off and he can’t, but another time there is leaves tapping on the window from a storm and he can work just fine. It seems like that the majority of times that we get annoyed with distractions and things that hinder our personal agendas, its the end of the world when its human, and it is totally ok when its nature. I would love to have a paradigm shift in this. His point is that we never see the big picture and we need to keep a clear head to make the right decisions. I just think that we need to love people and have grace. It’s true that we never really know what is going on with people and when they screw up or do something dumb, there may be a background story we are missing or some circumstance that is the real root of the screw up. Stephanie Murillo told me once when she was training me to run Mission Adventures back in 2006, that when she was running the program she had to make a conscious effort to ask questions. Once again a certain staff member was late to the morning session and instead of charging up to his room and letting him “have it”, she went up and asked “how he was doing”, “was he sick” etc? This helped her keep a great perspective of people over programs, and then also not looking like a total a-hole if he was sick. Mind you, he wasn’t but he did show up for the sessions more often on time after because he felt he had a leader who cared.

“The job is not your work;what you do with your heart and soul is the work”

What Seth is saying here is true for many of you – this summer in MA!  You’re working your guts out and you’re exhausted and some of you maybe tempted to ask: “Why am I doing this? Should I just give up?”

But deep down although you’re tired and stretched beyond what you thought was possible – you LOVE what you’re doing! You are ministering out of your heart and soul – and so really you have found the true key to work!  You’re doing it the way that God does it – He loves His work – He enjoys being God and all that He does – all of His works are just awesome – and He enjoys being available to you to give you the energy to do what you need to do this summer!

But are others criticizing you for what you’re doing?  Maybe from back home – or maybe even those around you?  Let me share with you one of my favorite stories from a great former missionary…

C.T. Studd, missionary to the Congo, presented this parable:
“Remember the miller’s donkey . . . the miller, his son and donkey went to the market. The miller rode the donkey all the way and people exclaimed, ‘Cruel man, riding himself and making his son walk.’ So he got down and his son rode; then people slanged, ‘What a lazy son for riding while his poor old father walks.’ Then both father and son rode, and people then said, ‘Cruelty to animals, poor donkey.’ So they got down and carried the donkey on a pole, but folks said, ‘Here are two asses carrying another ass.’ Then all three walked and people said, ‘What fools to have a donkey and not ride it.’ So let’s go ahead with our work for God and not care what folks say.”

Find out what God wants you to do – and do it with all your heart and soul – and don’t worry about what others will say about you!  Chances are that it is something that is a desire that God has already given you! That is the greatest discovery about work: to do something that you love – and then it is no longer work – it is a joy – even though like MA it might may you exhausted!  So stick with it – and see what God will do!

You Know You Want One!

Since there’s no post this week, I thought it might be appropriate to put this info up here. The fine folks over at McPhee have put together the ultimate Seth-a-Be accessory: An honest to goodness Seth Godin action figure. Check it out here:

http://www.mcphee.com/sethgodinactionfigure.html