I thought I would step away from the more cynical nature that usually comes through on this blog and share a thought and moment that occurred over the weekend to our family.
This past Sunday, our family (Jami, Cooper, and I) were chosen to help break ground on Eastside Christian Church's new sanctuary after nearly fifteen years of planning and development. The staff wanted a cross-section of individuals that would represent the diversity of where the congregation has been and where it is going in the future. Our little clan represented the young families in the church, along with approximately twelve others that were able to dig the first holes for the project. In a congregation of over 1,000 members, I felt humbled to be an up-close witness to the event.
However, that is not what put me in awe. There are times in all our lives when we pay witness to an event or take part in an event firsthand that is bigger than us. Everyone has been involved in an event that eventually ends up making a substantial difference in the life or lives of people around us. In some instances we may have to stop and think about the scenario, but must of us can think of at least one instance in our lives where this has occurred. Maybe we happen to be at a meeting where an idea we brought up helped shape the company where we work. Or maybe we were shopping for groceries and happen to spot a lost child wandering in the store, then take it upon ourselves to make sure their guardian was found. Who knows...it may have been a town hall meeting when the school decided to take a stand and NOT remove the Ten Commandments from the local part. That may have been history making in your town.
Many of us can state we have been involved in a relationship(s) that ended up having consequences that were bigger than us - our example helped a friend make a big decision in their life, our generosity helped make someones tough time more bearable, our willingness to go against the grain led a total stranger to take a stand they would not have before, our ability to listen to a friend in a time of need allowed them to work through a problem and so on. We run into circumstances frequently where events are bigger than us, yet we are able to make a difference and say "we were there when it happend".
However, there a very few instances that we can say we knew of these circumstances ahead of time. If we knew the impact or outcome of our actions on the situation, we may actually have had time to cherish the moment more or even have made calculated decisions that would have had greater influence on the situation. What my family and I were able to participate in was an example of this scenario. We knew what the event meant ahead of time, we knew how much this meant to everyone going into the event, and we were fully aware what type of legacy this ground-breaking event WILL leave on the generations to come.
Individuals with names we will never know will be forever changed by what took place in a hilly, muddy field at Eastside Christian Church yesterday afternoon. Individuals that at this very moment do not know Christ or have any desire to have a formal relationship with him, will one day stamp their ticket to a private viewing of his throne, because building-a-building is more than just a construction project. It is an opportunity to reach more people for a cause bigger than any of us - more people than can currently fit comfortably in the surroundings Eastside has to offer. I can't believe I was able to be a part of it up-close with a shovel in one hand and my wife and son in the other.
I was so blessed to be a part of this event and savored every minute of it!
Matthew 5:14-16
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1 comments:
What an honor...Your family is a great representation of the young families. I'm sure they were proud to have you there for them!
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