Life in the Circus

On February 29th, 1960, Cartoonist Bil Keane began drawing his iconic cartoon strip "The Family Circus".  Now syndicated in over 1500 newspapers and media outlets world-wide, Keene's funny glimpses into a fairly normal, yet funny, family are now the widest reaching cartoon strip in the world.  His son Jeff, who is featured in the daily strip has taken on the role as artist now, so its safe to say that the Circus will go on.

I've always described the missionary life as a circus.  Not in a derogatory way, of course, but in the manner in which life is lived.  The circus life is one of constant variety, weeks filled with big changes, and always something going on in Center Ring.  Constantly changing geography, languages, cultures, ways of communicating messages typify this life.

I grew up this way.  I'm 32 years old now and I still feel an alarm clock going off in my head every year or two telling me it's time to pack up and go someplace completely different, much to the chagrin of my wife. I got very used to saying goodbye to friends, making new ones quickly, and only putting down enough roots to survive, but not so much that you can't dig them back up again.  I was very much the carnie in school as a kid as I was the only one in my high school that had traveled to over 20 different countries, experienced a variety of exciting adventures, and I quickly understood that other kids couldn't relate, so why try.  

Please don't misunderstand me though, I don't regret a bit of it.  I've sometimes heard from others that we should somehow be pitied for all the change and travel, but I don't view it that way at all.  Firstly, I didn't know anything else, so that was normal to me.  Secondly, I have had the opportunity to see things that people inside and outside the church dream of.  I've been to twenty something countries on three different continents, I've seen revival break out, and experienced miracles and wonders.  Sure I didn't go to school with the same kids K-12, but honestly....most days...I kinda pitied them.  I think for kids, they'll think what you tell them.  I'm sure if my parents had told us that we were somehow missing out, we probably would have thought it so, but as my parents never did, I have never come to that conclusion on my own.

I think in a way maybe this is why many missionary kids come back to missions.  It's as though God has hard wired us for this life. Six months ago I was a funded missionary living and ministering with my family in Europe.  Today, I'm an under-funded missionary living in a former parsonage in Noblesville, IN, working in an area that while within my skill set, and what appears to be God's will, is not directly related to my ministry in Hungary.  If I were 'normal' this sudden change probably would have been far more devastating than it was, but to me, this is life.  The show must go on.

My activities today include networking and fundraising in an attempt to shore up our support base.  I'm working at OMS headquarters to create a development plan for missionaries, specifically emerging leaders.  I'm getting ready to welcome my Daughter into the world in the next couple weeks or so.  I feel like there is so much going on, and you know what, I'm fine with it.  This is the circus life.  This is my life.

God makes us all for a reason, and the life experiences as I mentioned in my previous blog are not wasted.  There's a role to be played and He needs carnie's like us to play an important part in it.  

From the Center Ring,

Jonathan

Nothing is Wasted

I remember writing an essay in elementary school.  As a 6th grader in Billings, MT we naturally studied a good deal of native american history, and we as a class had been assigned essays focusing on different elements in an indians life.  I can no longer remember exactly the topic I was assigned, but I recall writing and being fascinated by the fact that the indians didn't seem to waste anything.  When a buffalo was killed the pelts were turned to blankets, the meat of course eaten, and even the internal organs were used for various purposes.  Years later I saw a needle that was used for sowing made out of buffalo bone.  Indians were truly masters at using everything at their disposal.

So to it is with God.

One of the reasons that I have confidence in our direction is that I have seen God's coordination of events in our lives.  Several years ago I was quickly and accidentally thrust into leadership of the young adult program (YAM) at our church.  We worked hard at it and it was fairly successful ministry.  At the time I had no idea why I was in the role I found myself in, but years later I sat back and realized that the time I spent with the young adults laid a foundation for the next steps in my life.

Prior to YAM, I had never done public speaking.  As a missionary I soon found myself speaking publicly on many occasions, often drawing on things that I had learned working with the Yammer's.  When we arrived in Hungary and founded our Young Adult and Youth Programs, I drew extensively on my experience from my church.  75% of our program was similar to the program we had run stateside.

Later when I began to work on my MBA, my experience speaking publicly in both YAM and on the fund raising trail helped me excel in my speaking opportunities and develop a decent reputation as a public speaker.

It's so much easier to see God's hand in things when you're looking backwards.  Standing in Hungary looking at the various tasks we had, my leadership in YAM suddenly came into focus.  So many things became obvious.  I could suddenly see how my experiences in Hungary in 1993-94 were a part of our ministry.  I could see how my time in leadership of young adults ministries were not only for those young adults, but helped me know how to work in Hungary.

Today I look back and I realize that the MBA that God led me to in Hungary (answering three fleeces and making it obvious), played into where I am right now.  We are engaged in the questions of leadership and management, personal and professional development of our missionaries, and I realize what the MBA was all about (and I suspect far more than I even realize now).  Had I not gone through that time in my life, I would have been ill prepared and most likely not even working in the capacity that I am now.  How encouraging it is to find areas of your life that you didn't realize were so intentionally placed.  The string through my life continues.

So today, if you find yourself doing something for God that doesn't seem to make much sense or you feel isn't worthwhile.  Hold on, you can't see the big picture now, but in this world, when we yield all to God, Nothing is Wasted.