"Make sure to take everything in!"
I've heard this advice a few times now. And although I understand what people mean, is it really possible? And if it is possible, is it really the best way to go about these next 11 months?
We all want to learn. We all want to grow as people. But it becomes hard to do that when there is so much fighting for our attention. You might be somewhat like me. I buy a book on Amazon and can't wait for it to come (who doesn't love that feeling when you see a package with your name on it?!) . But once I violently rip open the box and stare at the book, all of the sudden it hits me, "When the heck am I going to have time to read this thing??" I have so many lectures, sermons and articles bookmarked on my computer that I truly desire to go through, but just can't seem to find any time to do it. Or so it seems. Really, we just have so much thrown at us today it becomes hard to just pick something.
These next 11 months will be stretching. I'll be pushed to my limit emotionally, spiritually and physically. But I know that it will fly by in no time at all. Yes, I want to try and take everything in, but I also want to pick something to focus on. After helpful conversations and prayer, I have a narrowed down a list. So here it is guys:
1.) Leadership – I've been learning a lot about leadership this past year. As an RA I was in a position of leadership for really the first time of my life. Even more so, I've been hit by the realization that our world lacks solid leaders. Just look at the decisions made in our country's financial industry recently. Look at the absent fathers in broken homes. What feels good becomes priority over leading with integrity. Sadly, our churches lack leaders too. I want to become a leader, and I don't think that is an arrogant thing to aspire to. I have A LOT of work to do in this area though. I'll be the first to admit it. But I'll be pushed on the World Race. I'll learn to be a leader for the sake of others, to serve others selflessly and be someone who people can trust and feel safe around. I want to be molded into the character of Christ and lead the way he lead, full of love and grace, but full of confidence at the same time.
2.) Photography – I love taking pictures. Just the fact that you're capturing a brief moment in history forever is amazing to me. And there is so much to that moment captured, so much story and so much character. I want to capture the beauty of God's world these next 11 months, and I want to learn how to do that well. I want to take pictures of people who have never seen there own faces before, of families who have never had a family portrait in their home and of a world that is forgotten so much in our day to day here in America. I want my photos to tell a powerful story. Which leads me into my final point…
3.) Story – I want to learn how to tell a story well. Stories are what change things, they bring hope and empowerment to people who in turn change the world. God told a story. The Bible is an epic story that we grab truth and life from because it is the story of how God is redeeming mankind and making all things new. And the truth of this story is continuing to bring change to this world. The story of a man who burst out of a tomb 2,000 years ago, the story of a man named Jesus, is a story that can bring a self-made man to his knees and hope to all nations. So I want to tell stories. Stories of what God is doing through His church. Stories of hope and redemption. Stories that can ultimately inspire you guys to change the world around you.
So follow me on this journey
A journey of adventure and growth
A journey of tough lessons and triumphant moments
A journey that is sure to change my life and maybe even yours.
