Now, I must admit that over the past few months I have been moaning about how I wasn't able to go to my favorite conference of the year. You might be saying to yourself, "somebody call the waaaaambulance!" You don't understand. This conference is soooo amazing. It is where I get renewed. Refreshed. Excited. Fresh ideas. Etc. This year I didn't get to go because of Addison being due on that weekend. Having a kid is definitely better than a conference, but on a different level.
So here I am in the middle of fall, and I must admit, dragging a little. I am trying to figure out my job again, now that I no longer teach on a regular basis, trying to figure out life with an infant in the house, how to balance work, wife, and kid. Obviously it can be done. Men have been doing it for millions of years. I just (in the words of Number 5 from Short Circuit) need input!
Well, Saturday night turned out to be that. INPUT! I had forgotten what it was like to hang out with your best friend. To talk and share your ideas, concerns, emotions with someone. And I mean really share. Not just what's going on in your life, but what is under the surface. We didn't do much, but it was probably one of my favorite dates of all time. What an encourager she is to me. And it isn't necessarily that we had these deep philosophical ideas, but rather that she knows me well enough to tell me where I am faltering, doing well, could do better, reminder of what my dreams are.
Saturday was more than that, however. Saturday was a reminder that we were created for fellowship. However, our idea of fellowship is to go have a meal with some friends, drink a $5 cup of coffee that cost the company 32 cents. Talk about your job, maybe your relationship with your friends, boyfriend, or girlfriend. But we were made to go deeper than that. Yes, we need to talk about those things, but we need to talk about the dreams that we have, the plan/will God has for us. We need to remind each other that we aren't here to simply absorb, walk around crying about needing this and needing that. You see, what my wife helped me walk through while I was thinking and bemoaning the fact that I needed to be "filled" up or for someone to invest in me, was that I really needed to invest in others. I needed to share my thoughts, wisdom (what little there is) and ideas with others. To walk with others as they struggle with life and look for answers. The beauty of Christ coming to earth is that we have the freedom to go out and absorb. But Galatians 5:13 says this, "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." It's that last part that we need to focus on. We have the freedom to go and do whatever selfish desires we want. But if we focus on love and serving others that is when we are truly "filled" up and made complete. You see, I came to understand this about myself. As long as I was focused on me, filling me up, getting what I thought I needed only left me with a longing for something that would never be fulfilling. But when I focus on serving others I am full.
Are you full? Are you looking for more? Maybe it's time to start focusing on others and serve. So here is/are some reminders: 1) if you are married, go on a date. have adult conversations and get below the surface; 2) if you are single, find that special someone (no not a boyfriend or girlfriend per se) that you can share your desires for ministry and life; and 3) SERVE!
