Enough with the Numbers!

As I have said before, I LOVE numbers. Actually, my profession is in numbers. I love crunching, analyzing, and projecting them. I’m not sure why, but I feel like my brain loves the challenge of finding the right answer and there is always an answer when it comes to numbers.You may already wonder where this is going, but stick with me, I promise I have a point!

You see, I am trying to change a habit. First thing my mind goes to when measuring anything – a basketball game, a vacation, or the success of a youth event is — What was the score? How much does it cost? How many youth attended? I think that is pretty normal. We tend to measure success quantitatively.

I want to write about the last one though – How many youth attended? That is the habit I am trying so hard to change. Recently, I took on a youth-group leadership role at my church. A group of adults have been meeting regularly to discuss where God is leading us in encouraging our youth.

As I have mentioned before, this past summer I went to New Orleans for our triennial national youth gathering. It’s the first time I had ever participated in something like that and it was fantastic. My favorite session was in regards to youth ministry – moving from event-based to relationship-based concepts. From what I gather, this is a newish idea. Instead of having a bunch of youth events, adults start to invest in the lives of the youth. I could go on forever about this subject but I’ll save that for another time. I do know I was sold on this idea. The impact can be so much greater when you start to build a relationship versus when you hold an event, send them home, and never scratch the surface of who they are.

I’ve brought this idea back to my church and people are on board and excited to see where God will lead us. I’ve started a small group huddle with a few teenagers and it is everything I had hoped it would be. It’s so exciting to live alongside and support them, to see where their interests lie, to see how God is working in their life, and to pray for the things that bring them stress.

BUT… there is a big BUT here. I still find myself measuring success in numbers. That is EXACTLY what we want to get away from. When talking to people about how a recent youth gathering went, my first response…. “We had 6 but it was still great!” UGH! In that moment I wanted to take it back so badly. Especially the “but”. I measured the success based solely on the numbers.

I wanted to rewind that instant so badly and give an answer like, “We had a wonderful time! The youth all enjoy and care for one another. The adults interacted, laughed with, and encouraged the youth, it was all around a great experience.” That is an accurate picture of where we want to go. Stories instead of headcounts.

It doesn’t matter if we had 1 or 21 youth. If just ONE youth got to know just ONE adult, that is God working. I know habits are hard to break and this is hard work, but I am committed to it! I want to encourage this shift and changing the way I speak about success is a good start.

It’s not always about the numbers. Sometimes, it’s never about them.

An Unexpected Letter

Every week I get two UPS packages from our Charlotte office. Usually accounting stuff, stuff for the CEO, HR, etc. Well, in the package this morning, something caught my eye — a letter from an inmate at a correctional facility. I read it and it struck me. You can read the letter (Click Here). I blocked out any identifying info, but we will call this person John.

What is so striking to me is, 1) It’s a typewritten letter 2) It is formal 3) John explained his problem and his need. I don’t know John. I have no idea why he is incarcerated. I’ve got no stake in whether he is guilty or not. I am not the judge or jury. For some reason though, I want to see if there is something we can do for him.

I have some thoughts about this. A typewriter — that most (including myself) would scoff at in the age of faster, thinner, more powerful computers — is more than adequate for him. He isn’t asking for a brand new typewriter (yes, they are still in production), he is just asking that his be fixed.

This letter took me down a few notches that’s for sure. I’ve got a computer, using it for this post, internet, a home, etc. John doesn’t have the luxury of sending an email, and getting a quicker response. Sure, we can assume did something to get where he’s at. Put that aside for a minute.

He needs this typewriter for legal work, presumably, to get a fair trial.

John took the time to type out this letter. He doesn’t know if the letter will find someone who wants, cares, or can help him. He has no idea where this letter will fall, if it would even be opened, or if he will ever get a response. To me this looks a lot like faith. I believe what I cannot see. I believe God sent His Son to die for our sins. I believe that I can’t do anything to mess that up, or to earn it. I believe it is all Grace. I have no idea if John is Christian, but I do know that he is loved by God. He is forgiven by God, like you and I.

I really shouldn’t have ever gotten this letter in the first place. I am just an accountant. I think that it was probably piled in with everything else because the receptionist didn’t know where it should go. I have no power in sales, returns, etc. However, I think there is a reason why it ended up with me. I have an urge to help him. I have no idea if I can, but I will try.

“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18-19)

The Best Christmas Present

We are one week away from Christmas! What does that mean for you? Are you panicking that you have 6.3 more gifts to buy? Are you preparing for the big family get-together? Are you dreading waking up at 4:37 AM because your kids can’t wait any longer? Perhaps you’re at peace and taking in everything that Advent brings.

I’ve been thinking lately what Christmas actually is to me. It’s the birth of a baby boy, the King of kings. It’s the Word made flesh. He is God’s precious lamb. Jesus is the perfect example of inversion. He, the sinless perfect being, comes to take on our sin. He takes our place on the cross. We deserve the judgment, yet he loves us so much that He can’t let us face it. Isn’t that the best reason to celebrate?

God’s love is infinite. We can’t do anything to change that. His Grace is the greatest gift of all.

Sundays

Oh, how I love Sunday mornings!

I didn’t always. Before God worked his way into my life, I used to sleep in and lounge around all day and wait for it to be Monday. I didn’t look forward to Sundays at all, because it meant Monday was around the corner. I think I believed having lazy Sundays meant I could recuperate from work or school; before I’d have to go back and do it all again. Not surprisingly, it never felt refreshing. Just like a wasted day.

I was missing something I desperately needed — God.

Now, it is much different. Sunday is my favorite day. I get to go to church and learn. I get to be around people I love. I get to catch up with friends, and hangout with a bunch of awesome kids. I leave church with such a sense of joy, and that is a fantastic feeling.

I think back sometimes, before I joined my church, and think about everything I was missing. I’m so grateful to God that He got me where I am now.

God fills me up on Sundays. He shares His love with me through others, and for that I am truly thankful!

Another Number

I am approaching a milestone in my young-adult life, 25! A WHOLE quarter-century of life has been lived. So, what have I done with it? Well approximately 13-14 years were spent in pre, elementary, middle, and high school. Then another 4 spent getting my undergrad degree in Accounting. That’s a lot of life spent learning.

The past 2 ½ years have been spent working give or take 40 hours a week as an Accountant. I enjoy it most days.

The past two-ish years, have been the best of my life. It started out of a tragedy. About two years ago, my aunt passed away. Long story short, we had a memorial service at a local church, and that was the start of something big for me. God wasn’t ever a huge part of my life prior to these events. That all changed quite quickly. I became a member of this church, and have created the most meaningful and fruitful relationships with people that I’ve ever had. Grace is gift, and that’s something that has been central to my being.

The future… that word is a little scary. What does it hold? I have no idea. I am so thankful for these 24-almost-25 years on earth. When I think 5 years down the road, 10 years down the road, I get anxious. I’m usually a very persistent planner. I want to plan as much as I can. Something about what I’d plan for myself in the long-term makes me queasy. Some general plans – I’d love to have a family of my own. I LOVE kids. They make me so happy. How long is it going to take? I have NO IDEA. I think that’s what makes me crazy. I want to know how, when, where, who, etc. I can’t predict the future so there’s not much I can do about that. I have to learn to let go. That’s hard for me.

So what to do with the rest of my life? Whoa, can’t even think about it like that. I need to start way smaller; with the day-to-day stuff. I want to be a light for Christ. That is my purpose. I want to share the love, joy, and forgiveness He so graciously shares with me. It’s there for everyone.

“Quarter-life crisis” has been across my radar. Facebook has a way of learning everything about you, and I suppose that’s why I am seeing articles, blurbs, etc on the subject quite frequently. What does that even mean? Apparently mid-life crisis isn’t enough. I don’t get it.

Twenty-five, to me, is just another number and I hope to make the best of it.