Shameless Plug: Verge12

Yes I admit it, this is a Purpose Driven Blogpost.

A shameless plug for an upcoming gathering in Austin called Verge12 which I’m planning on attending, along with my conference-hating husband Dave. So why would someone who is not a church-planter or in leadership at her church expose her introverted spouse to such torture?

I am a mom who needs help.

I’ve realized over the past three or so years, that when it comes to spiritual formation in my kids, I’ve been building little clones of myself.

And it ain’t pretty.

Someone once said, “you don’t want to climb the ladder of success only to find the ladder was leaning against the wrong wall.” Well, my ladder has been tilted for as long as I can remember at the wall of checklist items like:

• Being nice to our neighbors, so we can bring them to church
• Raising kids who don’t cuss, especially at church
• Separating my family from “the world” as much as I could
• Attending as many church functions as possible
• Having my kids know more Bible verses than the next kid

So one day, I cannot even remember what prompted it, I was struck by the lack of joy. My lack of joy. My tiredness at doing the church stuff right but being haunted that there must be something more.

There was no joy in seeing others come to know Jesus, because I barely experienced Him myself. I just went to church a lot. And raised non-cussing kids.

So over the last few years, I’ve been on a journey. God has introduced me to people who are the real deal. Folks like John Perkins who love their community, not as a marketing gimmick but because the love of Jesus to walk along the least of these, flows through their lives. Pastors like Dave Gibbons who rocked my world with The Monkey and the Fish. Champions for the fatherless like John Sowers and The Mentoring Project. People like Mike Rusch’s Cobblestone Project down in NWArkansas who envision a community without need. The list goes on, but my journey hasn’t stopped.

As God has shown me another wall on which to lean my ladder, I crave hearing more. I want to learn from folks who live this out, who share the good news of Christ’s love in tangible ways. I need to see how others wrestle with living out love each day to people who are different. I suck at it, but I’m learning.

So, my Ten Faithful Readers, this is why this mom wants to go to Verge12. Maybe you’ll join me? And don’t feel bad for my poor introverted husband, when he heard that Alan Hirsch was going to be there, he invited himself.

By decarter in God stuff, inspirations, mothering