It Happened On the Road to Six Flags

Image by Paul Fris

We visited Fusion Church again yesterday. Tony McCollum began a new series entitled “Beautiful - The Heart of a Woman.” Something he said struck me. He was talking about how women want to feel loved and accepted, and many times, as guys, “we can be off saving the world and the people back home suffer.”

It struck me, because, as my lovely (and beautiful) wife can tell you, this is now the 6th state I’ve taken her to in our 13 years of marriage…

• We got married and began our journey together in Springfield, MO - serving on staff at the Baptist collegiate ministries of Missouri State University while I finished up school
• I graduated and we moved to Fort Worth, TX - all on the same day, mind you. Headed to TX to pursue my seminary degree.
• Moved to Coffeyville, KS after a year - God called us to serve in my home church as a student minister and worship leader. Lived there for almost seven years (while finishing up my seminary degree from afar).
• Began Work in the Marketplace in Oklahoma City, OK - God opened the door for us to be involved in Bridgeway, a house church network, and to work full-time doing web development for a company in the city.
• Moved halfway across the country to Nashville, TN - began working for LifeWay, doing writing, editing and web development. Also got a chance to help lead worship at times and served part-time on our church staff at Gladeville working with young adults.
• Set off on a new adventure in Atlanta, GA - working for our friend Jeremie Kubicek at GiANT Impact.

My wife has incredibly not just followed me around the country, but enthusiastically set off on this journey at every turn with me! I wouldn’t have been interested in being a part of any one of the stops above, had she not been by my side, with her hand in mine.

When Jeremie began talking to us about the possibility of moving here to work with GiANT last year, it was the day before we were setting off on a mini-family vacation to Six Flags in Kentucky. As we drove, Andrea and I talked and prayed. I’ll never forget the words she spoke to me in the van that day. She said, “If, after going down there and seeing things first hand, this is something you want to do, I say we go for it!” We knew maybe 10% of what this move and work would entail, but her hand was already in as she voiced her support of me, once again.

It wasn’t a short decision - in fact it took a lot of time and thought before we were ready to set out on this latest adventure. But we did it hand-in-hand and I wouldn’t have even thought about doing it any other way.

So maybe I’m “off saving the world,” but, gladly, she is right by my side. I feel incredibly blessed.

Posted 08.11.2008

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