Once More (With Feeling)

This summer should be an interesting one.   It marks 20 years since I began the journey officially in full time ministry.  It also marks 20 years that I have been married to my beautiful wife Christie.  We met one snowy day in grad school, got engaged 3 months later, married 3 months following that and left for a year tour about 3 weeks after.

There’s only one word I can think about to describe the last 20 years.   It isn’t “great” or “magnificent”.  It’s not “trying” or “hardship”.  It’s not “glorious” nor is it “heartbreaking”.  All of those words have their place, but I think the one that I would be the most inclined to use is this…

Adventurous!

Here are some of the facts by the numbers…

About 700 scripts, screen-plays and theater presentations written

Around 600 Kids Services lead

Approximately 200 churches visited

Over 150 original KidMin characters created

32 different States ministered in

20 years working in ministry

17 family moves as an adult

16 Different kids camps, youth camps and VBS’ directed and run

15 years as a full-time Children’s Pastor

14 months spend on the the mission field on short term missions

13 years working in the U.S. full time

12 mission trips lead and attended

11 separate animal “attacks”

10 different countries visited

9 different cross state/province/country family moves

8 years in college and grad schools

7 years as a Youth Pastor

6 years working in Canada in full-time ministry

5 different churches as full-time staff

4 years itinerating to be a full-time missionary in Africa.  After 4 years and nowhere close to goal, heartbroken, we let that vision die.  God had something else in mind for us

3 years in part time ministry as an adult

2 years touring the U.S. in ministry

1 beautiful wife and partner

There are other important numbers, like the 3 kids we had along the way, the number of people that have touched my heart, and broken my heart and healed my heart.  The uncountable sleepless nights spent in worry and doubt.  The early early mornings racing to get things ready.  The scary nights working late in abandoned and dark corridors.  The hours praying for blessings, and healing, and forgiveness, and grace…. and grace… and grace…

How many nights did we look at our bank account, compare them with our bills and wonder how we are going to get out of this one?

How many times did I sit in an empty room breathing in the sweet air following a event where God had shown up faithful?

How many times did I find myself curled up on the floor weeping as a big hot mess?

How many friend have I spent precious hours with contemplating the nature of the universe, and the God-head,  and love and justice, and the feelings of being inadequate.

How many conversations did I have with my wife in the darkness of the night where we dreamt together, prayed together, planned together,and broke together.

How many times have I been alone with my God, and simply sat there, breathing in His presence.   Not knowing the future.  Being confused of the past. Knowing I didn’t deserve to be there with him.  Knowing that I didn’t deserve Him being here with me.

But He was there anyways.

He’s ALWAYS been there anyways.

So, yes,… Adventure.  Not the one that I had all planned out for us on those spring days so many years ago sitting with my new fiancé.  However, it was an adventure none the less.  I won’t say there aren’t many things I wouldn’t do differently, nor will I say there aren’t any regrets.  However I will say this…

…I’m so glad they have all brought me to where I am.

So what’s in store for the next 20 years?   No idea.  But my hiking boots are tied tight, my walking stick is at the ready, and I’m chomping at the bit to begin.  Lead on, Lord….

Let the adventure begin!