There are moments in life that are defining. Unmovable stones of remembrance. Often it starts with “I remember where I was when ..”. Some of these are generational. For my parents generation it was the JFK assassination. For mine the space shuttle challenger explosion and 9/11. But some of these stones are personal … one of mine occurred on 9/19/1997. I was coming up the stairs at my parents home .. the news floored me .. Rich Mullins had died in a car accident.
I’m not one to obsess over musicians or actors. Nor do I like much of the Christian music scene. Yes, there are songs that connect with me, but rarely does the artist. Rich was different. His songs were poetry put to music. He was non conventional. He told it how he saw it even if people were offended. The was on this journey with God that didn’t make common sense. The wonder of who God is captivated and consumed him. He lived his experience with God, even when it didn’t make sense. He wasn’t bound by denominational boundaries or conventions. He walked where God led, until he was led home.
I think one reason I connected with him was his raw spirituality. He took things deeper, beyond the pat answers and expected responses. Often we are asked what ministry are you in but maybe that’s not the right question. Rich said “stop thinking of what you’re doing as ministry. Start realizing that your ministry is how much of a tip you leave when you eat in a restaurant; when you leave a hotel room whether you leave it all messed up or not; whether you flush your own toilet or not. Your ministry is the way that you love people. And you love people when you write something that is encouraging to them, something challenging – those kinds of things. You love people when you call your wife and say, “I’m going to be late for dinner,” instead of letting her burn the meal. You love people when maybe you cook a meal for your wife sometime, because you know she’s really tired.”
I am partly who I am today because of his music, his words and his life … because he let God lead him on a journey..
Last week I had an awesome day! On 4/23 my family and I went to the court house and finalized Luke’s adoption. Now he’s officially Luke Menne!! We were the first called to go back and see the judge. He congratulated us and asked Aidan if he enjoyed being a big brother. We signed a few docs and took a few pics. That was it! the court gives all adoptees a stuffed animal. As we left Aidan picked out a big brown bear for his little brother. Then we celebrated with breakfast at the Original Pancake House. That night Aidan and I went to the store to pick out some steaks and dessert for dinner. We gilled out and celebrated again! It was glorious day officially welcoming Luke into our family and just hangin out!
Aidan was getting ready for bed and I was watching the end of Star Wars Episode IV. There was about 20 minutes left and we let him hang with daddy and finish watching. He was enthralled by the characters. He’s constantly asking “who’s he” and “who’s that”. Then during the scene where Luke is about ready to fire his torpedo’s into the Death Obi-wan speaks “Luke use the force”. Aidan instantly ask “Daddy, who was that!”, there’s a short pause and he follows in a voice of awe … “Was it God!”. I reassured him it wasn’t and it would be a few years before he could watch the entire movie. I love being a father!!!
Ok. Yesterday while getting waiting for by Barista to deliver my Starbuck’s fix, I overhear him talking about some trip he’s going on. Trying to make conversation, I ask “Where too?” … “oh, Sudan” is his replay … hmm, interesting. We talk about Sudan a bit, I get my coffee and left. Today, I finish taking a test at Seminary, take it up to my professor. He introduces me to a fellow student in his office. Guess where he’s been recently … yep, Sudan! Not only was he in the same town I was in, but he stayed in the same house! …. hmmm …
I’m learning that often life doesn’t make sense and sometimes God doesn’t either. When I was a kid I remember listening to stories about missionaries in church. They were filled with adventure and God doing powerful things. After the story, the story teller would challenge us about becoming missionaries in a far off land, even Africa! I’ve learned as a believer I’m a missionary right here, right now … but that’s for a later post …
Fast forward a few year, life is busy … family … work … school … church … life! … I get a call from Mike. “God’s been putting you on my heart, I’m supposed to call you and share a need …”, Mike tells me. He continues to explain the need for men to come to Sudan and teach in their Bible School. There are Sudaneese men eager to learn, but teachers are needed. They need men to come along side and “be” with them. I told Mike, I would love to but you know life is kind of crazy right now. I have sooo much going on … maybe when things slow down in a couple of years. After a long conversation we hung up, Mike would find others and I would call him in a couple of years … yah right!
Sleep didn’t come easy that night. God kept pinging my heart and mind. “Why not now? Why not? You say I’ve called you to teach .. we’ll here you go…” I’m not sure if this was God’s still small voice or his baseball bat. But I sure felt sore in the morning. Needless to say my “I’ll call Mike back in a couple years” turned in to less than 24 hrs.
were poetry put to music. He was non conventional. He told it how he saw it even if people were offended. The was on this journey with God that didn’t make common sense. The wonder of who God is captivated and consumed him. He lived his experience with God, even when it didn’t make sense. He wasn’t bound by denominational boundaries or conventions. He walked where God led, until he was led home.
