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"Ain't Nothing Gonna Break My Stride.... oh no.. .I've got to
keep on moving..."
I have this obsession with fundraising. I can't get enough of it. In fact, when I'm not on a big fundraising
project, I become somewhat depressed.
Last year, June hit and I don't think I really got dressed and left the
house for 2 weeks. A month later, it was
auction and golf tournament time so I was happy again.
I recently had the honor and privilege of chairing Auburn
Young Life's "A Reason to Dance."
This was by far the most fun I've ever had in my fundraising
career. We had 5 couples learn to dance
thanks in part to a generous donation from Arthur Murray Dance of Federal
Way. Those couples danced in front of an
audience of 500 people who sat enjoying their dinners served by Green River Community College. My face hurt by the end of the night because
I couldn't stop smiling as the night unfolded.
It was an absolute blast and so inspiring to hear about the way Young
Life has changed the lives of so many.
It also didn't hurt that we exceeded our fundraising goal by 26%!
I'm currently working on small parts of many fundraisers but
I started to go into my funk again. I
missed the excitement and energy behind A Reason to Dance and I couldn't quite
come down from it. With this on my
heart, I took a seat at church this weekend and waited to hear about the
mission trip our youth ministry just returned from.
I heard bits and pieces about the life changing experiences
from the trip and was touched to think that my kids might experience this too. The sermon talked about where your heart
is. I was reassured as I considered the
fundraisers I've been working on. They
served God... they brought teens to God.
I had a very loving, supportive and Christian group of women encouraging
and counseling me the entire time. It
was and is "all good." I have
finally learned to serve selflessly.
BUT...
Pastor Bodwell started talking about how he is struggling to
find contentment after his mission trip.
WHAT? A pastor isn't
content? He told that the work that went
into the fundraising, the planning and the actual mission itself were like his
mountain to climb. He climbed the
mountain, had an incredible view and now what?
Where is his next mountain? Of course he prayed about this and what he
heard spoke straight to my heart.
"Are you content with just being
with God? Is God enough? Or, do you have to constantly climb mountains
and seek accomplishments to be fulfilled?"
WHAM!!!! My breath
became lodged in my throat as I asked myself this same question. Pastor Bodwell was feeling the same thing I
was. There is no question his heart has
been in the right place and he too is learning to "just be." Wow!
This is when I got a swift nudge to my ribs from the wise
one sitting next to me. The sermon
continued.
Steve went on to discuss unrealistic expectations. When we put our hopes and dreams into things
and people, we are disappointed and let down every time. It's not because these relationships aren't
wonderful. It's not because these people
aren't deserving of our love... it's because no single person, possession,
fundraiser, event or job can consistently be everything all the time. Only God can answer these needs. You've heard this before right? Me too.
I started to sit back in my chair and passively listen. Then I received another WHAM!!!
I can't remember his exact words so I won't quote him but
Pastor Bodwell asked if I had unrealistic expectations of my kids. Who me?
Of course not. Wait a minute....
Who do I yell at when the house is a wreck? After all, when I was younger I imagined a
pristine house like my mother had. I
knew my children would get along as well as the two I routinely babysat and my
marriage would be awesome. Well...I've
got the marriage part. I have two kids
that are great. They are funny, loving,
smart, wise beyond their years and everything I wanted and more... except
they're slobs.... and they fight.... constantly. I've just described most 6 and 8-year-olds...
haven't I? Yet I hold them to the
standard I created in my mind and I'm consistently frustrated when they don't
measure up to it. Not their problem
apparently. It's also not their problem
that I expected them to behave and keep their voices to an acceptable volume...
that too is my problem.
What unrealistic expectations do you place on others
and on yourself?
Who do you hold accountable for your happiness?
Are you content?
Is God enough?
Please check from this Sunday's sermon to be posted on line
at
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