53

 

I turned 53 this week.  Although someone referred to it as "the big 5, 3" there is really nothing big about it.  I got to spend an afternoon with my wife, all four of my children, and my two children-in-law.  It was not a big event (we're talking Panda Express take out level event), and it wasn't completely birthday boy-centric.  In fact nearly as many gifts were given to other people (late wedding gift, late birthday gift) as I received.  It was perfect.

What I had hoped to do (but the idea came too late to implement) was hand everyone a reverse birthday card.  I had the idea of giving a gift (of heartfelt words on paper) to those in the room whom I treasure.  [Just to be clear I treasure everyone who was in the room.]  That concept might be more aligned with some non-Western cultures, but it felt pretty novel to me.  Since I didn't have time to get it done that day I have embarked on a project.  I am writing 53 letters of encouragement to people in my life.  That list includes a lot of obvious names (like all the people in the room at my party).  But for the other slots I just started writing names.  Some were more obvious than others.  There are colleagues who have been my partners in the gospel for many years.  There are local friends who have stood by me (and next to whom I have stood) as the world seems to tear itself apart.  There are names who need far more encouragement than my few words can offer (but I'm trusting God to meet their needs).  And there are names that just came to mind for some reason.  I'm not letting myself obsess over the names that should be on the list... but it's tempting.

I think this writing project is good for my soul.  I think there is something Christlike in considering how the person will receive it.  The words in the letter matter of course, but there is more.  When I print for someone who can't read my cursive, or when I give some care to what the address looks like (yeah, I address in different handwritten fonts), or when I purposefully add a coffee cup circle (not the whole circle, mind you, but about 300° on the right edge) to the back of my graphic designer son-in-law's envelope I think I'm saying I know you and I love you.  

10 down.  43 to go.

weakness is the way

I was reminded recently of a J. I. Packer quote from the book, Weakness is the Way, which I shared with my son shortly before his high school graduation in the infamous Spring of 2020. "…we are all weak and inadequate, and we need to face it… We need to be aware of our limitations and to let this awareness work in us humility and self-distrust, and a realization of our helplessness on our own. Thus we may learn our need to depend on Christ, our Savior and Lord, at every turn of the road, to practice that dependence as one of the constant habits of our heart, and hereby to discover what Paul discovered before us: 'when I am weak, then I am strong." 

In my InterVarsity ministry life, the South Dakota Area Team is shrinking. While it has been great to welcome Elijah to the team, Caleb’s transfer and the resignations of Rachael and Chris have left me in a place that’s hard to describe. I am grateful for the ministry each had with our team. But I am also faced with the dilemma of unstaffed student groups. I am tempted to believe that trying harder is the way, or that I need the (right) good idea (I have lots of good ideas... if you are familiar with strengthsfinder you will know what it means that ideation is one of my strengths) but weakness is the way. I have a God for this very circumstance. In Isaiah 42:3 we read "...a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench." 

Would you pray for me, my staff, your pastor, anyone you know serving the Lord who feels like the task is too big? Pray we would remember who is our strength and that we would trust in God alone.