Shut up and be thankful

I’m on the bus again. I’m working on hour 10 right now. So far I’ve watched Eagle Eye and Fun With Dick and Jane, entered all of the online registration codes from yesterday’s show and read some columns I’ve been behind on. Really? That’s it? I think I just depressed myself. I have been on this bus longer than a typical work day and the most productive thing I’ve done is check Facebook 20 times.

I’ve been contemplating why this tour has not been as exciting as the first. Here are my theories:

1. More work- we have about 50% more shows this time around so we definitely have less free time
2. Been there, done that- I’ve seen a bunch of these places already
3. It’s not exciting, yet- the fun is around the corner. We had some good times this fall, so I hope there are more on the way.

I’m struggling to go at things with the same excitement and passion that I did last year. I still enjoy the actual work I do, as far as being the video director for the live events, but the rest of it isn’t always that enjoyable.

I was talking with a host family this morning and we were discussing what lay ahead in this day of travel. I predicted that today we would be asked to eat only snacks from gas stations for our meals (thankfully I was wrong). The host then said something to the effect of, “After the impact your show had last night, I would think today would be a day of celebration with steak dinners for everyone.” While I wholeheartedly agree with that statement, it also made me realize something. This is all brand new for most of the people I meet. Many youth pastors I work with don’t see hundreds of their kids come to Christ, but I’m fortunate to see that several times a week. What an awesome thing I get to be a part of!!!!

Some recent attitudes and actions of both myself and my teammates have prompted some other thoughts that kept me up last night. I was turning them into a speech in case attitudes hadn’t improved by morning, but things seem to be better today so I’ll hold off on the speech. I’ll still put it in print, because I think most of these thoughts apply to everyone, not just to those on tour:

An influential person in my life once told me, “The only two things you are always in control of are your attitudes and your effort.” Nine out of the 11 of us on tour have nearly no control over our circumstances. We don’t determine where we’re going, when we’re leaving, where we sleep, and often what we eat. We cannot act, we can only react. Each one of us can choose to be miserable and complain or choose to treat this like the adventure it is and deal with it. We are perhaps the richest group of missionaries in the world. When was the last time a missionary spoke at your church about the hotels they stay in, riding in their Internet equipped tour bus, eating in hundreds of restaurants, or taking a day trip to New York City? We get to travel the country, see things most people only dream of, consistently see lives being changed, and get a stipend for it!

Despite all of our blessings we have the audacity to complain: “I don’t like what they’re giving us for dinner.” “They don’t have any bottled water.” “We have to carry stuff upstairs.” “I’m cold.” “I’m hot.” “I don’t want to sleep on an air mattress, pull out couch, or cot for one night, I want my own bed!” “I miss my girlfriend/boyfriend/fiancee/wife.” Yes, some of those things are important, but when any of those things starts to affect our attitudes and efforts and thereby our jobs and thereby fulfilling our calling, we need to reevaluate our situation. If after reevaluating we decide the aforementioned things are more important than this ministry, it is time to call it quits. There is not one person out of this 11 that is irreplaceable. The show will always go on because it’s not our show. Not one person came to the show last night because they saw me speak at their school assembly and wanted to see me again. No one came to see me direct. No one came to see any of the other ten either. People came because God wanted them to be there. Simple.

To fulfill our calling on this trip, we will sometimes be dealt a hand that we would rather discard than play. Unfortunately, in this case, you need to be either all in or fold. No other options. No takesies backsies either.

If you want to fold, then this bus has 4 doors and 6 emergency exits. Please make your way to the nearest one.

If you’re all in: Shut up and be thankful.