This is Glenn

This is Glenn.

I’ve known Glenn now for about 16 years.

Glenn was a teacher for his professional career.  A really good one at that.  One of those individuals who are underpaid, dismissed by most, but passionate about education and seeing kids succeed at life. He has a wide scope of influence as he relentlessly poured into and shaped young minds (and colleagues too). 

Glenn is finishing his race here on Earth.  He’s heading for the tape, about to cross. 

His love for life, family, and Jesus is real.

He’s walked through some of the most trying times as a parent, loving his children with the upmost of dignity, care, and compassion.  He’s loved his wife, Rita, always seeming to bring a smile to her face or making her laugh.

At this point in reflecting, I can only think of the good times. I know there were times where he wanted to be better.  He wanted to have another opportunity to handle something or a situation in another way.  As we all do.  

But as I’ve walked with him and his family over the last 8 months as he has battled Leptomeningeal Metastatic Melanoma, the grace and courage he has demonstrated is what great men of history have shown while knowing their time was short and coming to an end.  Never cursing God or wallowing in his circumstance, but asking the question of what else might he be able to do with the time he has left. 

As I peruse my Facebook feed, I’m reminded that life is short… it really is a vapor.   Here in the moment and gone the next.  While this may seem like a depressing thought, I find it liberating and focusing.  We’re granted only so much time to experience what we can.  There are things we stress about that are really, in reality, nothing.  

True greatness, sucking the marrow out of life, comes from serving and loving others.  Especially those that can never repay you.  

The encouragement is to be in the moment.  Celebrate those small accomplishments (along with the big ones), victories, engagements, successes, graduations, plays, ventures of faith, births, and even those family reunions.  They are awkward, but… if nothing else, they make for good stories.

When in doubt, love.  Especially when someone doesn’t deserve it or have been unkind.  It's a choice. 

Forgive.  Lack of forgiveness causes bitterness. Bitterness will rob you of life.  I don’t know who said it, but bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for your enemy to die.  Forgive those who have wronged you.  It will set you free. 

Thank you, Glenn, for your life and sharing it with me.  I’m a better man, husband, and dad because of you.  I’ll see you soon.

The Measure of Success

"I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave Me to do." -John 17:4

When we think of the quintessential teacher Jesus comes to the top of the list.  His ability and masterful way of communicating truth to the masses is unparalleled.  When we think of the faithful and true pastor, Jesus is the model.   When He declared that His work was accomplished, He spoke mainly about the twelve He called to follow Him.

Jesus' prayer that John wrote down in his gospel, was said shortly before going to the cross.  What intrigues me is Jesus' measure of success.  In today's judeo-christian american culture, I find myself fighting the metrics we tend to use for success.  Not measures of success we say out loud of course.  But those measurements as pastors we all see and feel.  Success many times is measured by twitter and Facebook followers, books published, article write ups, number of speaking gigs outside of regular Sunday morning, church attendance, and not as often but sometimes... salary.  

Jesus had the followers (many thousands of followers!), but as soon as He had them, He spoke about hating family members and eating His flesh and drinking His blood.  This, conceivably so, sent the crowds for the exits.  We know that He didn't preach a message of hate towards people, the second of the greatest commandments is loving your "neighbor" as yourself.  He also didn't condone cannibalism, but to take part in His gift of salvation (His body broken for us and the new covenant He established).  To those that didn't seek the truth, they were repelled when their sensibilities were offended. 

When you read Jesus' prayer in John 17, it's clear to see that His measure of success was being faithful to the twelve people God gave Him.  Judas was lost that scripture might be fulfilled, known to be the "son of perdition" as his brothers in ministry would call him, but the other eleven believed.  Not only did Jesus pray for the eleven, but He prayed for all those that would hear their message and believe.  That's you and me!  I find it encouraging and helpful to remember what Jesus considered success.  

We see lots of models on what church could, should, and "has" to look like.   The pressure and standards that we have set for ourselves, those that we see speaking at the conferences telling us the "how-to's", the head trips that we put ourselves through, we can relieve some of the unneeded stress of being successful by remembering the measure of success that Jesus focused on; to be faithful with those whom God has given us. 

May we be faithful with what and with whom God has given us.  The ministry is all for the glory of the Lord, as we serve at His good pleasure.  

Let me know your thoughts.