The last time I used this blog, I was hungry, sleep deprived, filthy, smelly, and in a South Korean airport. As I write this, I am clean, over-fed, comfortable, and rested in my house in Indiana. But, interestingly, I’m still hungry. At first I really did think it was for food. I just gained some weight, still hungry. Then, I thought it was for adventure. Zip-lines, roller coasters, and two international trips later, still hungry. “But what are you hungry for, Adam?” Hold your horses, reader, I’ll tell you. But first let me catch you up to speed.
What I’ve been up to for the last year and a half:
I became best friends with Chris Williams, honorable mention going to Ted and Lucretia Sims, Dana Fisher, and Anthony Blair. (Carol Fogler, Aaron Baker, Ryan Bodine, you were there all along – still are 🙂
I tore my ACL, had re-constructive surgery and now have a cool scar.
I had a twitter account created for the purpose of sharing ridiculous things I said that operated in successful secrecy for over a year. Thanks, Chris.
I got to meet Michael Gungor and was introduced to his (and his wife Lisa’s) musical project that is pushing the boundaries of how worship is expressed. Check it out: www.gungormusic.com
I got to know some absolutely INCREDIBLE students as director of high school ministry at my church. As a result, I got to see the Bahamas, Belize, the less-glamorous side of Chicago, and the inside of McDonald’s WAAAY too early in the morning for guys’ small group. Seriously, I have the best job in the world. I’ve had so many of those, “Is this really my life?!” moments. Playing with Austin Huffer and Jordan Foster in the neo-metal screamo band “Mermaid’s Revenge”, watching students bravely believe they can down 2-liters of diet RC cola in a minute, swimming with sharks in Belize, literally seeing God transform young peoples’ hearts right in front of me. IS THIS REALLY MY LIFE?!
And still, the hunger. But why? My life is good, I’m comfortable, good things are happening. In fact, great things are happening. Lives are changing, people are coming to Christ! Why am I not satisfied?! In this state, I found myself yet again upon the banks of good ole Lake Michigan. Bear with me here. My family goes to South Haven, Michigan every year for vacation. In 2009, I was there the week before I left for the World Race. I was freaking out – “what am I doing?!”. In 2010, I was there less than two weeks after I got back from the World Race. I was freaking out – “what do I do now?!”. In both instances, He spoke SO clearly and SO reassuringly. This spot (seen below) has become something of a sanctuary for me.
On our 2011 South Have trip, however, I was pretty happy. Things were fine, going well. I didn’t even need to pray, right? Welp, I did anyway. And what do you know, He spoke clearly again. Only this time, He told me to leave. WHAT?! Things are good, in fact they’ve only very recently gone from just ok to good personally for me. I’m comfortable here. Is this really happening?! I had to make sure. So I prayed some more. A lot more, and talked with friends and cast lots (ok, not that last part). In the end, I knew it was right and it was what God wanted. Telling my students I was leaving was one of the weirdest, hardest things I’ve ever done. How do you tell someone that you’re leaving? I’ve never known. And it’s even harder when you don’t want to.
I will be leaving in January to move down to Gainesville, Georgia to do the Apprenticeship program, something like an 8-month… well… apprenticeship. Yep, I’m going from a ministry director to an apprentice. I’m going from “job security” to raising support again. I’m going from a somewhat sure future to “I have no idea what the heck is going to happen”. Yep, sounds like the Kingdom. I’m going because I’m choosing to believe God when He told me that even though this season has been great, the next one will be even greater. And it’s cool because that’s not just for me, it’s for my students. If God is serious about this, there’s someone even better that’s going to step in and take the youth at Community Church of Columbus to the next level. I’m convinced that I was supposed to be here in this role in this season for a reason. But the season is drawing to a close.
I wonder how many times greatness has been missed in the name of goodness. I don’t want that to be me. I’m going after greatness, not for my own sake, or even the sake of greatness itself, but because it’s what He wants. So, here I go again – with no idea what’s going to happen. Should be fun. I sort of hope the hunger never dies.
Let’s see what happens next together, and then someday we can laugh and look back on God’s faithfulness yet again.
Adam
P.S. Oh yeah, I have to raise a whole lot of money again, and I definitely need a WHOLE LOT of prayer. To support me financially, click the “Want to support me?” link to the left. To support me in prayer, hit your knees. Please. Thanks!
