What’s your favorite post?
Nov 20th by JonOne of the students asked me that last night before I spoke at the Clemson Fellowship for Christian Athletes. And it’s a good question, but I think I gave them the wrong answer.
The truth is, I haven’t written my favorite post yet.
But I’m about to.
In a week. In a month. In whatever timeframe it ends up becoming, I’m about to write my favorite post of all time and I already know what the title is going to be:
“We raised enough money to build two kindergartens in Vietnam!”
We’re on the doorstep of that moment. At almost $48,000 of our $60,000 goal, we are teetering on the precipice of that post and I don’t want you to miss it.
Soon, when you’re at a holiday party and someone asks what you did this year, you’ll be able to say, “I helped build two kindergartens in Vietnam.
Soon, when someone asks about your New Year’s Resolutions for 2010, you’ll have to say, “That’s a tough one. You see last year I helped change the future of two entire villages in a country halfway around the world.”
And that’s the truth.
The reality is, if you want to help 1,000 people, help 1 kid.
Because when you help a kid, you start a generational change that can ricochet for decades. The kindergarteners in Vietnam are growing up in a world that is more connected than it’s ever been before. Each of those kids is going to interact with, talk to, work with, dream alongside and meet more people on this planet than you can even begin to fathom.
And don’t think for a second that the fact that strangers turned an empty field into a school for them is going to fade from the place inside where each of those kids keeps their hope. Whether through the interconnectivity of the Internet or a cross village conversation they have with a friend when they’re 38 years old, a gift to a kid carries exponential possibilities.
Experiences like this, like the one that we’re all in the middle of right now at Stuff Christians Like, tend to create their own gravity both for the recipients and the givers. Yesterday I told a guy I’ve worked with for years about the project just on a whim when he came to my cube to ask about a QA issue. You know what he said?
“I got baptized last week with my son. Whoa, I can’t believe you just told me about that. Wow God.”
Don’t be surprised at how God can use the simple act of helping someone else or what conversations He makes possible as a result of this whole thing.
I hope we finish soon. I am so proud of you it’s almost silly. Someone gave $5,000. Lots of people gave $1. And both gifts mattered. On top of that, the prayers of people who couldn’t give did too. Although technically if you’re ever going to raise money you have to by Christian law say, “If you can’t afford to give I would really appreciate your prayers,” this time I really mean it. And here’s why:
You don’t raise your first $30,000 in 18 hours without prayer.
That wasn’t me. That wasn’t us. That was prayer and God.
My favorite post ever is coming soon. I hope you’ll have a chance to be part of it, whatever that looks like for you because something wild and God glorifying is happening right now and I don’t want any of us to miss it.
Comments
I've been reading 2 Cor. 9 – the cool thing about giving is how it's all about HIM…
"You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God…"
Cool, huh?
Thanks again for being obedient to this calling – and letting us be a part of it…"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
I've been teaching music for years now. There are always a few kids who can't afford it who have a heart and passion for music who still need a chance. For those kids I normally find a way to get them an instrument and the lessons they really want. All those kids have gone on to do the same kind of thing for others. I always tell those kids that I'm willing to buy stock in their futures… that they are so worth investing in their lives. You can be sure that the kids who go to those schools will know that they are loved and cared for. They'll know that God has loved them enough to meet them right there where they live. That kind of love is a powerful thing in kids lives. Thanks again for the opportunity to share in being God's hands and heart to those kids.
Who would have thunk it, huh? I've watched this sight over the past year and the community here never ceases to amaze me. God is amazing. And I think we've given a pretty good argument for sarcasm being a spiritual gift.
That's good fund raising, right there. We aren't just about these kids, we are about the tens of thousands of lives that will be affected by affecting these kids.
Keep selling the vision. It's not about the dollars. It's about the Lord doing something unbelievable in the lives of those kids.
FYI, Julie IS a hippy. For some reason, she's my 8-year-old's latest favorite and that's what she's asking Santa for. She feels sorry for Julie, because her parents are divorced, and admires her "teenager-ness."
We have tried to remind her of how much she loves playing with ELizabeth and Felicity, the historical ones, but she says their fancy clothes are too hard to get off and on, and besides their hair's all wrecked, and Julie's is smooth. (Plus, though she didn't say it, I bet Julie's clothes come off a lot quicker) (Just sayin').
Jon, do you think I should tell her that Santa doesn't like hippies?
Oh no. Wrong thread.
I meant to post this on the ChickFilA thread. Sorry.
You can now return to your regularly scheduled programming.
I really look forward to that day.
You are right, there have been several pots on here that are my favorite, but my favorite of all time will be the day that we reach out goal and the zakk attakk gets completly accessorized and metroed out.
My favorite post? All of them.
Just sayin.
Saving seats. It was a rather recent post. As amusing as many others.
I just feel like there's going to be a favorite post about a 3rd school. I know my family is waiting to give after Thanksgiving when we vote on our charity of choice this year (I know at least 4 of us are voting to go through your blog). There have to be others waiting a little while longer to give too.
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