Thanks to all who have sent me the links to the recommendations of Harding by Bill Clinton, me, and others in the 1988 recruitment video. (Thanks to Mark Elrod for posting those.)
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In my spiritual formation class, we just went over the concept of being “overly and dangerously tired.” We live in a culture that promotes that. It resists rest, reflection, restoration.
Is that possibly why this world is insane with anger?
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Yesterday was my younger son’s first high school (freshman) baseball game. He batted twice, walking once and getting one hit. I told him NOW is the time to retire. How many people can say they batted 1.000 in high school? It’s downhill from there.
Makes me think of Henri Nouwen’s book, “The Way of the Heart.” I keep reading it over and over again.
(By the way, during my first high school at bat, I got hit! To make things worse, it turned out to be the hightlight of my career.)
Nice glasses.
Congrats to Chris!
OH MY!!!!! I was just transported back in time….and it was a pretty quick trip! I just saw 1/2 my roommates, 1 or 2 boyfriends, and recognized nearly everyone on that video. Since I was @ HU from 1986 to 1990, this 1988 video was AWESOME, DUDE! Thank you SO much! I still talk to several of the people I saw on it, so I can’t wait to tell them to watch it. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
One of our elders, David Fincher, appears at the very beginning of your video. He looks 12! (You look more like 14.)
So, Mike, how did it feel to be a spectator and not a coach? Weird, huh!?! I’d still like to be closer to the field myself for my son’s games.
I remember those videos. That was during my tenure as Director of Admissions at Harding. There are some interesting stories there.
Mike,
My wife (Melanie) and I were recently sharing an extended time of prayer together on the floor in our living room–praying earnestly for our ministry together. In addition to praying, we were also sitting/kneeling silently before the Lord for a few minutes. During this time of silence, I was was “distracted” by our 5 year old beagle who continued to walk around us in circles just sniffing, sniffing and sniffing–going crazy (if you know anything about a beagle you know they have a nose that stays in overdrive!!!). Anyway, as I sat there in silence, I thought about you and your blog “sniffing out the work of God in the world!” Thought you might enjoy this story! Thanks for all you do for the kingdom! God bless, Brian
For driven, “successful” people, there is a danger in actually taking pride in just how busy, stressed, and tired we are. We TALK about it as if its not a good thing, but I suspect that many are like me - occasionally hoping that other people will think of it as a badge of honor. It shows that we are so unique, so in demand that our time and resources are stretched to the limit. It gives us and others the illusion that our value comes from what we produce.
But its all a lie. Our value doesn’t come from what we do. A thousand other guys could do the stuff I do at work, if they were put in my place. And the same is true for most of the rest of us. The real issue is…can I find and participate in God’s reign as I do it? And to do that, i need to be a person of grace, peace and reflection…
Excellent comment, Matt.
Heeeeeyyy, Mark Story is in that video more times than anyone. I smell shenanigans! (He must have worked on it with Mike James.)
I bet most students today wouldn’t recognize most of those location shots. The field where the intramural football game was being played is the music building now, and the girl’s softball field is a parking lot.
But those were the days, huh? Good times. Good times.
This sounds like a great class that is addressing relevant topics like overworking ourselves. There is a strong push in today’s world to do everything.
http://www.matthewsblog.waynesborochurchofchrist.org
Wonderful thoughts, but isn’t it a shame many, if not most churches STILL look at a potential minister (or Elder)’s resume for signs of accomplishment and activity levels before bringing them in the fold. Spiritual leadership really has few similarities with secular leadership. I like John Maxwell, but he’s blurred that line so much many churches treat elders as a board of directors.
Mike,
I’d like my voice back.
Kermie
dangerously tired…
reminds me of when a baby is so sleepy that she gets grumpy and cries, and you try to tell her that you’re at home and she can rest, but it’s too late. she’s already upset and worked up from being so worn out!
I know about being dangerously tired. I fear I am coming close to that precipice myself.