Way back in December, I read an article by Jon Acuff http://www.jonacuff.com/blog/what-are-you-going-to-finish-in-2012/ . I don’t generally make resolutions, but this article grabbed my attention. I sat down and came up with a list of 10 items for my own Finish Year list.
1. Raise $1,500 & file 501(c)(3) papers
2. write for at least one grant
3. visit PRN Cedarly for research http://pastorsretreatnetwork.org
4. send first pastor couple on getaway
5. send out first marketing project
6. visit Factor eFarm http://opensourceecology.org/wiki/Factor _e_Farm
7. finish MaPT
8. make a new friend
9. become more thankful by writing thank you notes
10. make a promotional video
I didn’t have any real sense that I would be able to complete all of these – particularly #1,3,10. Up to that point we had only raised about $50 total, so in all it seemed highly unlikely. Still, each of them represented a real advance in my life. I proceded to tackle the more attainable goals – making a friend, writing thank-you notes, working on my classes, etc. When life intervened in April with the passage of my mom, it seemed a great deal of my list wasn’t going to be completed this year. I felt like I had been slogging away faithfully, but was just going to have to lower my sights a bit. I continued my classes and we were able to send out our first pastor couple – a real triumph. We had a solid deadline for the 501(c)(3), so I knew we had to do that. Giving had increased and it looked like we were actually going to make that one.
And yet, the video project stymied me. I had approached a friend who agreed, but was unable to come back to Tulsa. I had called the media department at the university where I worked, but two semesters in a row I received no response. I resigned myself to the idea that this would just have to be moved to next year’s list.
At about this time a Facebook group of Quitters formed and asked me to join. The common denominator in this random band was the desire to pursue their dreams even if they had to maintain their day jobs. What has built up is a community of encouragement. People sharing their dreams, supporting each other, guest posting on each other’s blogs. It has been a joy to join. Somehow through this group I came across http://www.ticoandtina.com – a couple planning to travel around the country making videos about people pursuing their dreams. Beyond hope, I asked my dear friend Lynette to nominate us. Then we just had to wait for a decision.
Last week I heard from them that they were actually coming to Oklahoma! The only problem with this was the day job. I frantically composed a shopping list to cover 4 additional adults and 2 young children. My husband and son joined in with a vigor to get us ready. There was painting and cabinet work done – because that’s just how we roll. The team arrived late Wednesday night. We stayed up even later to try to talk out what we would do the next day. Thursday I dragged my body out of bed and went back to that day job, leaving my heart behind. I popped in at lunch and rushed home at 5 to start the shoot. We all headed out to Woodward Park to shoot the dream for Blank Canvas Tour. It was a beautiful evening and we joyfully shared the vision God has given us for Barnabas House of Oklahoma. Dinner wasn’t done until 9 o’clock and we stumbled into bed with hopes for the next day.
Friday came all too early. The effort to get up for work was even more difficult, but the sooner undertaken the sooner accomplished. Once again I rushed home at lunch and we plotted some more. Friday’s project was a promotional video – just what number 10 said! At the last minute I rounded up an actor to portray a burned out pastor – Dr. James Barber. We spent the next two hours shooting, walking, forgetting our lines, and then we headed home. Dinner was ready by 8:30 this time and we all dropped off by 11.
Saturday morning we got to sleep late (Praise Him!) and then sent our new friends on their way to the next dreamer. Our lives have been changed by David, Tina, Maeve, Maverick, Krista, and Randall. We’ve received new names from Maverick – Lela and Bib. Randall drew a picture of Barnabas House that made me cry. We shared meals and stupid YouTube videos and side hugs. Most of all we joined in pursuit of the passion in our hearts. And we were all a part of and witness to a miracle.
apples of gold 