6/19/2025
Maybeso I have too many projects needing attention.
According to the gurus, if one has more than three priorities, one has no priorities. Said gurus must understand that there are seasons where a fella’s fire runs to extra irons. Those same said gurus must also admit that they have never met me, or spent much time around my family. Now I’m not saying that those gurus are entirely wrong about priorities. Actually, I expect that they’re more than likely right.
Overwhelm has been lurking, ready to grab me like a South Texas thorn tree…
But not this time! I’ve seen it coming and am bound and determined not to let too many irons smother the fire. So let’s take a stab at three priorities.
Note: We really do have a bunch going on, and organizing everything into neat, nice, and clean categories is hard.
Cru
You might call this our work. Like our job. But I don’t entirely see it that way. It’s our calling. Our vocation. Our opportunity. And there are several key aspects to it. Like my assignment with Faculty Commons where my my full focus is toward the development of a network of Christian professors in South Texas.
There is also Ministry Partner Development, where we include others, primarily through finances and prayers. A great mission and vision is dead in the water without money to make it happen. But the beautiful part, and what I love so much about MPD, is the friendships that are involved.
And this summer, we have our special summer assignments. Heather’s is Institute of Biblical Studies. Mine are coaching new interns and Strategic Partnering. We also have our National Staff Conference in Milwaukee in July.
Base Camp
This is a little harder to explain. Base Camp is where we live. It’s like our family’s home base. It’s where we want our family to experience being fully known and fully loved, without requirement or condition. A place to dream and plan, as well as a place to rest and recover.
It’s creating a place for our kids to call home for as long as they need to or want to. And where they can always come back to….whether that’s for a day, or for a season. Base Camp is place for we can all grow up and grow out. It’s a place to gather in times of sunshine, or in times of storm. We need somewhere quiet, free from the never ending noise. A place where cows graze and doves can be hunted from the back porch.
And creating that takes a lot of work.
Kids’ Activities
6 kids. But for this, I’m really thinking about Macie, Rece, and Trey, since Will, Ben, and Sadie are all in college and beginning to venture out on their own. (We’ll come back to the pretty obvious gap here in a minute.)
Macie just turned 15. She’ll be getting her driving permit soon. She plays basketball and has friends. Did I mention that she just turned 15? …
Rece is 13 and is starting a new Lamb Project through 4H. He has also started Trail Life. I’m pretty involved in both. We’ll see how these opportunities go. Macie and Trey will like get involved as well at some point. Rece is also signed up for youth rec soccer.
Trey is 12, going into the 7th grade, and is getting ready for Jr High football and basketball, at least.
OK, those seem like the Big 3… Cru, Base Camp, and Kids Activities.
But wait. What about God? And our big kids? And our marriage? And church? It seems that leaving those out of the list creates pretty big gaps. Let me explain why I left them out.
My thinking is that family and faith aren’t categories to be prioritized. Those are bedrock. My relationship with Jesus is everything. My relationship with Heather is everything also. Eating and drinking and basic fitness aren’t prioritized. Those are the air we breath…
And that’s the best that I can do. Hopefully the gurus will understand.