Tag: details

  • Shut up and drive

    Church Van
    Photo by Simon Abrams via Flickr (Creative Commons)

    People are showing up and I have a million things running through my mind.

    • Do I have all of my personal stuff?
    • Do I have all of the stuff we need that the church needs to bring?
    • Are all of my leaders here?
    • Did I double check fuel levels? What about oil changes, we good there?
    • Which students still need to turn in permission slips?
    • And those two students I was trying to convince to go at the last minute, are they going to show?
    • Did I print off directions? The other drivers hate it when I forget to do that.
    • Don’t forget the orientation before we leave.
    • Did I print the flyer for parents? If I don’t write down all of the details they will call me the whole time.
    • How will I start a meaningful conversation with someone new on this drive?

    These are the myriad of things rattling through my brain as students show up for an event. I have a tendency to think 2-3 steps ahead of what is presently going on. Early arrivers check-in and I barely even acknowledge them as I’m still lost in the mental checklists of a deeply analytical moment.

    And I’ve learned over the years that since I’m lost in those details it’s better to identify a couple of volunteers who can be fully present when students arrive with their parents. It’s better to allow them to greet trip participants, answer questions, and get their bag put in the right place.

    But there comes a moment in each youth group trip where I have to intentionally shift gears and turns off all of that forward thinking.

    Sometimes you just have to shut up and drive the van.

    That’s how I’m feeling about life right now. There are a myriad of things going on. Too many things to list and some far too personal or private to share. But each day I have to find a moment where I tell myself, “Just shut up and drive.”

    All of that future planning and strategy is great. But if I don’t shut up and drive forward, those plans and strategies will become regrets. And ultimately, intentions, plans, and strategies don’t mean squat. All that matters is results.

    Shut up and drive.

  • I’m just a guy

    My backpack has come out of the garage. In mission trip language that means things are getting close. I’m at the point in preparation where I’m tidying things up before I go. Work stuff, family stuff, medical stuff, buying stuff, gathering stuff, and doing whatever I can to not think too much about where I will be a few days from today.

    I’m not quite at the point where I have a checklist but I am starting to think that a checklist is a good idea.

    Over the last few weeks I’ve noticed a certain pattern when people find out that I’m headed to Haiti to help with relief efforts. These are common phrases in the conversations.

    • “That is so awesome.”
    • “Are you some kind of expert?”
    • “I watch stuff on TV and wish I could help.”
    • “I’m so glad you are going.”
    • “Man, it’s really awesome that you are going.”

    There’s an inference that is it cool that I am going. Though body language would tell me that in the conversation my friends are often thinking, “I wonder if I should go.” Then there is an emphasis on “you.” This internal self-talk continues as I re-assure them that I’m not an expert, I’m not special, I’m not rich, I’m just a guy.

    Anyone who has met me knows that I’m an ordinary guy. I’m not a doctor. I’m not specially trained in advanced rescue methods. I’m not physically fit. I’m not prone to do dangerous things. And I’m especially not the type of person who sees people needing help, pulls over the car, and does something right there.

    Truth be told: I am a pretty boring friend to have. I tend to dream of nerdy ways to change the world I live in.

    What’s extraordinary about my trip to Haiti is that someone asked me to go. It’s not extraordinary that I am going. I kind of think anyone asked to go, would go. That’s why I’ve been saying, “First me, then you.”

    So I invite you to follow my story as i go. If you’ve read this blog for any length of time you already know I’m ordinary. If you haven’t yet met me face-to-face and are new to the blog, just trust everyone else… I’m just a guy.

    3 Ways You Can Get Involved

    1. Follow my story here on my blog and at YouthSpecialties.com
    2. Follow the teams stories on Facebook and Twitter.
    3. Join our prayer email list to get daily updates and specific things you can pray for. (see below)





    Get YMATH email updates
    * indicates required