Greater Good VS. Business as Usual

While sitting at Bush Airport in Houston next to my wife Julie, waiting for our flight to Lima, my mind drifts to all that I leave behind. Leaving my daughters, even though I am blessed with a great caretaker for them while we travel, is hard. I’ll miss Audrie’s last basketball game of the season, and another one of Alyssa’s halftime cheerleading shows. I’ll miss serving and ministering to my church congregation. I’ll miss everyone gathering tonight to watch the Superbowl as the Patriots try to achieve pigskin perfection. I will miss counseling, encouraging and praying with the men of the church. At least I won’t miss Julie; she is peacefully by my side texting more words per minute then seems humanly possible.

How do you decide which activities to give yourself to and which to reject? I asked an influential pastor this question once. His answer has shaped my ministry paradigm ever since. We have to decide which actions add more value to the Kingdom, he told me. Sometimes staying home with the family and attending to my first ministry is paramount. Then there are times when we must weigh the greater good against business as usual. Accepting an invitation to be commissioned as a minister to men, by one of South Americas leading pastors under the banner of Christian Men’s Network Worldwide in front of my wife, parents and key church leaders from around the world holds a certain significance that cannot be ignored. As a leader of men in my church and city I recognize the momentum builder this event will be for me as well as those around me. It’s almost as if I can hear the sound of the wench being cranked. The catapult is being set for a launch that will send me into flight, not knowing when or where I will land.

But quickly my mind is pulled back into the moment by the ‘All passengers boarding’ call announced loudly over the speaker. I will miss many things in my lifetime because of these calls. But I pray that in the end, the greater good has been served. Lord, that my life would add value to Your kingdom, and that those around me would understand. I know that God will be everything that I cannot and that His grace will abound.