I wanted to give you all an update on the UPS experiment. I definitely have a new perspective on several things. First and foremost, no one should ever be allowed to order anything on-line again!!! Come on people, can't you just go to the store, make your purchase and take it to the person you bought it for?!?! (Of course I'm joking considering we just finished our Christmas shopping... the majority of which was done on amazon.com)
Second-- put your dog on a leash!!! Seriously people. I know your dog has "never done that before," "won't bite," and all the other things you say when he charges at me barking and growling and showing me his huge, large over-sized teeth. But come-on, lets just except that all dogs hate the elegant and fashionable UPS brown. They just do. So keep your dog on a leash and be realistic that if you're 110 pounds, a child, or an elderly person, you can't hold the dog back... you just can't.
All that aside, the UPS experiment has been really good. Kelli and I went into it expecting that it would be an exhausting, challenging 5 weeks and choosing to believe that we could do anything for that amount of time. And don't get me wrong, after working 11 hours day one I realized I could get aches and pains in and around muscles I never knew existed. But overall the hours have not been horrible, the job has been challenging but very doable. My driver has been doing the job for 24 years so I'm learning a lot. And it's really been an eye-opening reminder of what all of you that work in the "real-world" experience day in and day out.
I think high school was the last time I heard the "f-word" as many times as I've heard it over the last 2 weeks. The world needs Jesus. UPS needs Jesus. My driver needs Jesus and I know that so many of the people you work with day in and day out need Jesus.
I want to close with a challenge and a request:
1) The challenge is to persevere. I know I'm the last person in the world who should say this because I will go back to doing my "ministry" job when the Christmas season is over, but I want to encourage you to stick with your job in the world. You are light. You are hope. You are exactly what the people you work with need and you have the message they need to hear... the gospel. Hang in there and intentionally pursue the lost around you with the gospel.
2) The request is to pray for me as I seek to be that intentional light for my driver Tony. I'm praying big prayers. I'm praying for gospel opportunities. I'm praying that the Holy Spirit would move in his life. I'm praying that after 23 Christmas' with UPS, this would be the Christmas God uses to change his life forever!
Thanks for your prayers. Two and a half more weeks in brown!
Please also pray for The Pathway. We have been seeing growth and an influx of young families. It is exciting and we're praying that God continues to move. Please pray for Together: Christmas that will be happening on Christmas Eve. We're bringing all our Intentional Communities together for a big family dinner, reading the Christmas story and some caroling. Praying it will be a time of family, worship, celebration, fun and unity!
