Live a mark and leave a mark: We all have one
- Michelle Wood: SWCD
- October 18, 2009
- 800
After an experience like Catalyst I can say my friend is right, it is like drinking from a fire hose. Although that doesn't sound like fun, the meaning is clear, a lot of stuff happens with a lot of power behind it, in a very short amount of time. It's fantastic. Incredible music, even the Black Eyed Peas' song "Tonight's Gonna Be A Good Night," and profound speakers. I am amazed by the creativity at an event like this one. Approximately 13,000 people watched and listened to some gifted leaders. Rob Bell, Tony Dungy, Andy Stanley, Malcolm Gladwell are just a few people who spoke those few days. People have been asked, "who was your favorite speaker?" I can't say I had one.
They all said something that spoke directly into my life. Rob Bell said, "Jesus will never ask you, 'why weren't you more like someone else?' You be you." Tony Dungy stated flat out, "You don't win every game. Learn from your losses." This was a zinger from Andy Stanley, "Surrender yourself wholly to God and He will take full responsibility for your life." Malcolm Gladwell said, "In times of crisis we need humility from our leaders."
Such good information. And now, after attending, all 13,000 or so of us are faced with what to do with the words spoken, the reflective songs sung. Francis Chan spoke, he is the author of the book called, Crazy Love. I had never heard him speak and was excited for the opportunity. He has a quick, real, electric smile. And the fact that he's Asian reminds me of my younger brother, so I immediately felt a connection. Something he said grabbed my heart. I heard it in the chambers of who I am. He said this: "if any of us got to heaven before him and asked Jesus, 'Hey, do you know Francis Chan?' That Jesus would say, 'Yeah, I love that guy.'" Seems silly that something like that would cause a shift in my heart, but it did. Imagining someone asking Jesus in heaven, "Hey, do you know Lee Ann Miller?" And Jesus saying, "Yeah, I love that girl." Powerful. He loves each of us so much.
I took notes, sang loud and laughed my share, I even ate some lip-smackin' food. But here's a fact: Now I have choices about what to do as a leader. The decision whether I sit and listen, or get up and do. Choices like, "will I believe the best about the people I work with or assume the worst?" How about this, "will I be a leader that is trustworthy?" Or, "will I give God maximum access to my abilities and my life?"
I'll close with this. The conference was called 'On Your Mark.' The concept being that we all have a mark, live a mark and leave a mark. And get this--living to leave our own personal mark is too small. But that living to leave God's mark, His story is worth giving our mark/life to. I love the sound of that, don't you?
Stik a Fork into healthy leadership, realizing God's love for you and living God's mark.
Lee Ann Miller is a resident of Holmes County. For more information, log on to www.amishcountryliving.com.