The best way to…

The story begins 8 months ago in Southern California, when Mitch (who plays drums at my church), came to me with Kim (my boss) and said, “We want to support you to go on your trip by producing a cd with you to raise funds. I will donate my time and get all the other band members on board… what do you think?”

All I could do was cry. How humbled I felt in that moment… how absolutely overwhelmed by their willing generosity, knowing that the phrase “time consuming” would be the understatement of the century…

I somehow managed to get it out: “I would be honored. Absolutely honored. Thank you so much…” Sob. Sob. Sob. And they chuckled at me, followed by the words, “We love you. We’re all behind you in this.”

And so began the recording process… which is just plain ‘special’. I can’t even begin to count how many hours these brilliant musicians have put into this project, how many edits, how much sweat and blood… Nothing I will ever do will be able to express the deep gratitude and
sense of overwhelming respect I have for them, what they’ve done, and all they’ve taught me…

…One warmish summer day, as we were taking a break over a delectable Quizno’s lunch, Mitch and I were discussing truths in life, and he said these words: “I’ve found that, truly, the best way to live your life is to give it away.”

It stuck with me. Very possibly because I had the distinct understanding that these were not merely words coming out of his mouth– he was LIVING it.

Mitch has given me more than a cd.
He has given me more than a diving board to embark upon my very own irresistible revolution. He has given me more than a means for which to raise support for The World Race…

He has given me an experience of Jesus Christ that I have not known this deeply until now. And if you were to pull him aside today and ask him why he did it, he’d humbly say, “Because the best way to live your life is to give it away.” I think that, ultimately, Mitch has invested so much because he deeply knows what a sacrifice Christ made, and he lives his life to replicate that.

In experiencing the overwhelming gift that my band family has given out of their love, knowing I could never repay them, it reminds me of Someone else who has done what I cannot repay… because of His love…

I can’t repay Him or them, but I can do one thing: I can
promise that all of this hasn’t been for nothing. I can promise that I will wholeheartedly pursue Truth and Love, and that I won’t
give up. They haven’t wasted
hours, blood, sweat, and tears; the sacrifice is precious to me. I won’t throw my life away, or take it
back for myself. I will strive to exist to bring honor to the only One who deserves it. I will seek to live to be about the things that break His heart, and the things that bring joy to it.

Mitch, Kim, John, Rick, Brian, Dave, and those at MVCC—thank you for being Love to me. Many may have heard of Jesus Christ, but not as many have truly been shown Him. I know my Savior better because of you.

And to my Savior– thank You for being Love. For Your patience with a trying child like me, and the grace You willingly extend to mend broken relationships… thank You. You have ultimately shown me that the best way to live this life is to give it away.