So trying to decide upon things to talk about on here has been surprisingly difficult, at least on this side of September. Life has a habit of refusing to slow down, even when I’d like to just stop everything and focus on WR stuff – fundraising, deciding what backpack I want to carry for 11 months, and what immunizations I need to get shot up with before I leave, among other things. But alas, God has me trying to keep up with Fairmont High School kids with Young Life, trying to pass Combinatorics and pushing on til graduation in June (crazy), and I think I also need to get an oil change…
I guess I’ll start with a somewhat significant (it’s all quite relative…) recent change. If you happen to look through the pictures I’ve posted on here, you might notice some patterns. I’m a fan of white shirts and green bandanas, yes, but you might also notice my slightly longer than average hair. For many of you reading this, if you know me at all, it’s quite likely you never knew me with short hair. It has been almost exactly 5 years since I last stepped foot into a haircut place, before prom my junior year in high school (2005). Yea, I know I was a stud in that bowtie. ————->
So, Tim, why the heck are you talking about your hair?
I’m glad you asked. Thinking more about the World Race, I knew that I didn’t want to worry about this mop that I had been wearing for about 5 years. So, on April 23, about 1818 days since my last hair cut, I got it all chopped off. For those of you about to ask, I did donate it to Locks of Love. It has taken some getting used to, but it’s definitely growing on me fast, if not only because of the shorter showers and being able to drive with the windows down without it blowing everywhere.
Now, to bring this around (sorry it took so long) to any meaningful conclusions, there have been lots of cool thoughts brewing in my mind about this period of transition that I’m in. As a Young Life leader, every Monday night during the school year we run what’s called club, a weekly meeting where kids can come and have a good time, we sing songs, play games, do some (hopefully) funny skit, and end with a short talk presenting the person of Jesus Christ and what He has to say into their lives. Well, a couple weeks ago I gave my very last club talk, and I timed it to be the first Monday after the big cut. During my talk I largely focused on 2 Corinthians 5:17-
Since that Young Life camp in Colorado the summer after my sophomore year where, for the first time in my life, I understood who Christ was and what He did for me, God has been preparing me for the World Race. Last night we had our last Young Life club of the year, and my last club as a leader (I’ll never say ever, but we’ll cross that bridge after these 11 months). It was an emotional time, but it wasn’t heartbreaking. I wasn’t being pulled away from this incredible unwillingly or burdened by doubt. God has taught me incredible things in countless
ways as a Young Life leader, and come September He is getting ready to keep the lessons, and my refinement, coming. Walking into Kettering Fairmont High School for the first time was far out of my comfort zone, and now that zone has grown to these nations of the world that He has been preparing for us. It will be a tough day getting on that plane, saying goodbye to my high school friends and fellow Young Life leaders, but it won’t be one of regret. Any tears shed will be those of joy and thankfulness to a God that has and will continue to bless me in ways that I can’t imagine.
