Over the last several years I have found myself feeling more compelled to begin to write. I have to admit that I am the last person I would have ever imagined as a blogger. Frankly I wonder, “does anyone even read this stuff??”
I find myself being interested in a wide variety of subjects. Adoption, software development, homesteading, micro-farming, prepping for the proverbial end of the world, high and low ropes course construction, how to lead my family effectively, how to study God’s word, and how to provide excellent customer service, to name a few. And the list goes on and on. Given all of these interests, this blog could come across random at times. In the midst of all the randomness however, there is one thing that tends to stay consistent — I love to learn new things. I’m one of those people that has had 18 new hobbies in the last 10 years. I have all of the gear for each of these 18 hobbies (my wife loves this part). Yet once I understand them and participate in them for a while, I find myself getting bored and looking for the next thing to learn.
During my time at seminary, a professor made 2 statements (among many others) that have stuck with me :
- Leaders must be learners.
- Leaders must be readers and writers.
The first statement I was excited about because I love to learn and I think as a husband and father I have a Biblical call to be a leader. Furthermore, I believe God has put in me a desire to lead in such a way that brings honor and glory to Him.
The second statement I was less excited about. I had barely read a book cover- to-cover until I was in college. On a side note, my 8 year-old daughter Kilee has likely read more books cover to cover in the last 2.5 years than I did in my first 25! The Lord has given her a gift to understand languages and a deep love of reading.
When I began seminary I was astounded at the mountain of reading that was required. As I began to learn to break down the reading into manageable bites it became a little less overwhelming, and I managed to begin to develop a love for it.
The second part of this statement is still growing on me (and that is how I ended up here.) This professor expounded on the second point by saying that as a leader it would be impossible to have the full impact that God intends for your life if you do not write, because it will be impossible for you to spend time speaking with or building relationships with everyone God may want you to have influence with. I had seen this firsthand during our time in Haiti, as many of the books that I had read through seminary are now being translated into Haitian Creole and are being used by God to bring about discipleship in a language that the authors cannot speak and in a people that they will never know. (Not to mention the fact that many of the authors of the books that I have loved reading the most have now gone on to be with the Lord.) I had never thought about the task of writing in that light before and for nearly five years a nagging/conviction/desire has been brewing. I am excited to begin this journey. I am sure there will be bumps and bruises, false starts and even some hiccups but it’s good to finally be getting started.