Positions vs Ideals

So, I got kind of nostalgic today.

I had my last unoffical meeting with the Greek Life Advisor at Baker as IFC President.  Don't get me wrong, I've been ready for the responsibility to leave my hands for the last couple of weeks, but seeing it be real is a little weird. 

The last year of my life I've kept my cell phone at my side every weekend just in case something in the fraternity world comes up.  I've ran meetings with some of the top Greek leaders on Baker's campus.  I've talk to potential new members on behalf of the entire Greek communtiy.  I've talked to various faculaty and staff on campus about Greek Life.  Myself and four other men have stood for Greek Life and the ideals that fraternities exist for. 

Now its over...

It's made me realize something very important.

You cna pour your life into a position, a job, a career, or an activity, but it is not that you should be pouring your life into.  What you should be pouring your life into is the ideals that you stand for.  I loved being IFC President and doing those duties.  However, it wasn't ever about being something, it was standing for something.  It's standing for the ideal that fraternties are a place where men grow into competent leaders and make the world better.  If I'm just pouring my life into being IFC President, and NOT the ideals that I'm trying to uphold, then its pretty pointless.

We should never do something because we want to be something, its because we want to stand for something.

For example, you don't take an accoutning job just to be an accountant.  You take it because you want to provide for your family because you believe that is an ideal you believe in.  Or you do it because you love the work, and you stand for the ideal that you want ot be happy.

I don't know, I'm still working through this idea, but, stading for something in what you do is much more important than just doing it.  A purpose.  A reason.  Isn't that what we are all searching for?

RESTART!!!

So, looks like I need to restart my blog, and to do that I need to reset and go to where I am.

I am still at Baker University, and I recently found out that I will be graduating early.  Yup, in December of 2012 I'll (hopefully) be walking across the stage with my Bachelors of Science degree in communication.  This is all very exciting.  I do not know what I am going to do immediately after that.

I have been discerning about it, and I'm leaning towards sticking around the area before heading off to Washington DC in the Fall of 2013 for seminary.  Teresa and I are looking to check out Wesley in DC at some point soon, as well as talk with some of my Zeta Chi brothers of taking a road trip to Chicago where I'll check out my 2nd choice (Garrett).  Of course I'll also visit St. Paul's (KC) at some point, just to see if it sparks my interest.

I think I've nailed down what direction I want my life to go and where I am being called to.  I am very solid in my call to go into ordained ministry, and I want to focus on church revitalization and conflict resolution in churches.  I really enjoy both of these topics, and I feel that is where my focus will be.

Speaking of churchy things, I am not a jurisdictional delegate for the Kansas East Conference of the United Methodist Church!!!  What does that mean?  It means in April, myself and 11 others from the eastern third of Kansas will go to General Conference in Tampa, FL.  General Conference is the only body that can officially speak for the UMC.  I will be a reserve delegate, at that conference, and a regular delegate for the jurisdictional conference in Oklahoma City in July, where we will elect bishops, among other things.  This means I will try and blog about issues coming up at that conference as well.

Other things in my life?  I am still with my girlfriend Teresa.  We are almost at the year mark, which is REALLY exciting for us.  I work at Arrowhead Hardware in Baldwin City, KS as a part-time "do whatever they tell me" guy.  I have been president of the Zeta Chi fraternity this past semester and I was just elected to serve another semester in that capacity.

I have also been a leader in a "Freshman Salon Class" this past semester.  I will do the same thing this coming semester.  The class I will be co-teaching with Baker Campus Minister Ira DeSpain is on "Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White" by Adam Hamilton.  I will also try to blog on things I see from that book as well.  I will also be taking a class on "Communication in the United Methodist Church" another class I may blog about.

Is that it?  Ummmm....I cleaned my room yesterday....it looks nice.  I think that is about it.  I'm going to blog more often, promise!