What's that song...'36 years and what'd'ya get? Another day older and a deeper in debt!'?
Well that's true (I think its 'miles' not 'years') but that's not what I'm writing about!
OK, so Andy and I have been 'In Ministry' for 36 years now. Starting with two years at the Residence for teen girls coming out of the north. Then 20 at Dorion Bible Camp then 5 at Chestermere and the last 11 mostly at the Fellowship. Of course as a Christian your whole life is ministry but I'm talking full time vocational! (Hey, my math worked out!)
In the last few years we have had time to reflect as kids from the past, now adults, contact us or don't. The ones that contact us are a source of encouragement....(In this year alone we have heard from two from the camp and one from the Residence...thanks (if you're reading this) for the encouragement!!!!) some that don't contact us that we hear about are also a source of encouragement as they go on with the Lord. Then there are those we reflect on who are a source of puzzlement and sometimes disappointment or discouragement...and you wonder....was my service, 'wood, hay and stubble?' or people making their own choices going their own way. Still as I've written below in 'Balance' we have to work at not being discouraged or 'weary in well doing'. Certainly, for myself, I have to say I'm pretty sure, though my methods may have been not exactly the best (for sure), they were the best I had, and my motives....in examining them...I think for the most part pure. Andy and I don't have 'hidden agendas'. We do have different approaches! I'm more like a coach who tells it like it is and wanting to see people winning!!!!! Winning!!!! I'm American! It matters!!!! and Andy is a shepherd, like the team trainer...you know the guy who takes care of the injuries! We have the same goals! Wanting to see people, come into a real relationship with the Lord and grow in their faith and knowledge and love of God. It certainly wasn't for the money, or the praise, or the easy life...though really I think God took care of us marvelously through his people. We have lacked for nothing...I used to tell the kids...we're penniless but not poor! I think the hardest thing in this life of ministry, and it can happen to anyone, anywhere in any job or walk of life, but I'm talking about us now...and particularly the last few years, (hey I just had a thought! Maybe its because we are more involved with adults now rather than with kids) is people 'turning' on you so to speak...you think they know you, you think they respect you and your involvement in their life, then you do something that doesn't quite measure up to what they think it should and all of a sudden you are open to whatever treatment they want to give you. So as a Christian you refuse to get bent out of shape, but as a person, yeah it hurts...you just gotta let it go! Right? Right! But tell me...
'What is that??????'
I wonder how the people who had spiritual involvement in my life feel when they hear about me, am I an encouragement or a discouragement? Hmmmmmmm
Anyway I'm turning 60 and that's the time of life for reflecting right?
Stay tuned ... I've got lots more 'reflecting' to do....no, it won't all be negative! And this isn't meant to be negative it's just what Andy and I have reflected on and wondered about over the past few years.
