The Source of My Passion
This morning I’m going back to my office. I’m thankful for my job and love my church to death, but as many of you know
ministry can be difficult…
Long meetings
Staff issues
Financial pressures
Difficult conversations
Public pressures
Frequent criticism
High expectations
Writing blocks
Hateful e-mails
Never-ending hours
To sustain this every ministry leader has to have their heart broken from time to time. They have to find a way to recalibrate. They have to wrestle with what Jesus really meant when he said “feed my sheep.” They have to get down to the core of why they really do what they do.
I’ll go back to my desk today but if anyone ever wonders what keeps me going… if you ever wonder where I reach when I need to give a little more than I have… or how I get motivated to keep going when I want to quit? I don’t think about giving a dynamic message on a stage or sitting in powerful meetings and making the right call. I don’t even think about the massive vision God’s put in my heart that’s ten years away.
I think about people… broken people… hurting people… impoverished people. I think about the thousands of people God allowed my life to intersect with last week in India. I’ll think about these images…
A special thanks to Keely for capturing many of these moments, to Compassion for the life changing opportunity, and to EACH of you who went on this journey via the blog with me!!
And I was wondering…what keeps you going in ministry, parenting, and life in general when things get difficult?
59 Comments:
Dude, you captured my reason with yesterday’s post. I keep going because I can see people asking the question, ‘Why?’.
Maybe not in that one-word sentence but in the actions that they do on a daily basis.
And the answer I give back is not always in words because Love doesn’t have to be spoken to be understood.
Tony York’s last blog post..Cinderella’s Electric Slide ‘Boogy Woogy Woogy’
[Reply]
Tony York
8:13 am
I loved this post because I actually witnessed you doing just that in India. Approaching ministry one person, one life, at a time. You have a true gift for just loving people at the end of the day.
Which explains perfectly why we chose you and only you to represent at the LDP dinner.
Grin.
Melissa Fitzpatrick’s last blog post..The World on a String
[Reply]
Melissa Fitzpatrick
8:22 am
I’ve struggled with this a lot. But I heard once the concept of being burdened by our gifts. Even when it’s difficult you still have a gift from God that needs to be shared with the everyone so find joy in that.
Locking yourself in your room with a book, movie, or good music also helps
Sarah’s last blog post..Make A Difference Monday
[Reply]
Sarah
8:49 am
@Sarah, good music does a lot for my soul.
[Reply]
Pete Wilson
8:54 am
Loved your post Pete. Glad you are back. We missed you. I think hope keeps me going. Like the message said this weekend, hope when you feel like you have nothing else to hope in but the God of hope.
Jessica Turner’s last blog post..Giveaway: My Quotable Kid
[Reply]
Jessica Turner
9:05 am
by the way.. after looking at the pictures, I wanted to ask this question:
did you feel tall while you were in India?
I noticed the one guy stacked his hair to try to be as tall as you.
Tony York’s last blog post..Cinderella’s Electric Slide ‘Boogy Woogy Woogy’
[Reply]
Tony York
9:19 am
When these difficult times set in, I have to get myself, as quickly as possible, in His Word.
Thanks for sharing your heart with us while on your trip and the wonderful pictures that were captured made us feel as though a part of us were there with your team.
Blessings and rest,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22
Kaye’s last blog post..Heart & Whole of our Home
[Reply]
Kaye
9:22 am
Welcome home Hun. Thanks for letting the blogsphere travel with you.
Two things help me cope a bit better when I’m not managing to do ‘life’ so well. The first is lists. It sounds silly, I know, but writing a list means I can get everthing that’s floating around in my head and stressing me out of my head long enough to be able to deal with all the items one at a time. And it’s quite satisfying to cross the individual items off too.
The second is LOUD music. Despite the lists, sometimes I don’t manage to switch off. Loud (and I do mean LOUD) music for 5 or 10 minutes sometimes manages to force all other thoughts out of my head – sounds weird but it’s a bit like re-booting your PC when it’s going too slow.
And as a backup plan there’s always chocolate!
Carolyn’s last blog post..‘Not me’ Monday.
[Reply]
Carolyn
9:23 am
The only thing that is getting me through these days is thinking of those kids and worship.
Julie’s last blog post..Oh how God must hurt
[Reply]
Julie
9:24 am
Hmmmmm, sometimes when I feel overwhelmed I try to reset my thinking…..and ingest that Jesus knows has every hair on my head numbered. So surely if He has that detail covered, He has me where He wants me, He has me dealing with what I am dealing with because I am capable of it….He puts the perfect situation (issue) in my life because He has a plan and a reason for it….even if I want to kick and scream (which sometimes I do, lol)
BTW, I really appreciate you sharing your amazing journey…..I can only imagine what was revealed to you. The powerful photos alone that you and the other bloggers shared brought me to tears more than once….and we won’t even talk about the boogers on the keyboard after reading some of your stories.
amazing.
God bless~
*~Michelle~*
*~Michelle~*’s last blog post..What…Me? Worry?
[Reply]
*~Michelle~*
9:50 am
@Tony, Ha. I felt like a giant for once.
[Reply]
Pete Wilson
9:57 am
@Carolyn, I love LOUD music as well. Going to try that on the way home today.
[Reply]
Pete Wilson
9:58 am
First of all, welcome back, Pete. Thanks for taking us all along.
What keeps me going?
The first thing I always have to do is ask myself one question. Why am I doing what I’m doing?
I usually find I’ve been trying on my own instead of following. Jesus said simply, “Follow me.”
The best leaders are the best followers. Not the ones who are always shouting at the top of their lungs, “I’m a leader, look at me.”
Pete, you’ve been a wonderful example of just following Jesus. And it has led the rest of us in that pathway.
Thanks
Tommy Sircy’s last blog post..A Patch of Weeds
[Reply]
Tommy Sircy
10:18 am
I agree with Jessica and think that hope definitely keeps me going, and knowing that no matter how crappy and sad and mundane things are, it could ALWAYS be worse, and one day it will ALWAYS be better.
[Reply]
mandie segura
10:25 am
SO GLAD YOU ARE BACK!! Blake did a great job in your absence.
1. My husband keeps me going, when things get really bad we have a deal, I just tell him I need to be held, he has to drop what he is doing and just hold me. Always makes me feel better, with no calories, side effects, or hangovers.
2. Cry You sometimes have to just let the junk out. You always feel better after.
[Reply]
Gina
10:38 am
Kids. I know it’s crazy but if I feel down and out I usually borrow a friend’s kid for a while. You can’t be around a kid who is happy and playing for too long without smiling. In my line of work (I work with kids with autism) it’s easy to get burnt out or feel like you aren’t doing anything, but I’ve seen enough kids progress, slowly but still progress, to make me hopeful. I know that even interactions with me could flip a switch and allow them to do something they hadn’t done before bringing themselves happiness and their parents happiness.
Glad to have you back Pete! I haven’t been commenting but I have been reading about your trip. I was on a vacation of my own and didn’t have much web time!
[Reply]
Jessica
10:54 am
Glad you are home, Pete.
The starving and sick children I served in Zimbabwe break me. The Haitian girl with a cleft lip that I loved on in the DR, breaks me. My son who will need supervision and care for the rest of his life, breaks me. It is my honor to be broken for them. I consider it a gift and a calling, and so thankful Christ would be so sweet to me. I wish I could live in the center of the world’s most lonely and helpless children and serve them everyday…with my arms.
Melissa Irwin’s last blog post.."It’s A Good Day For The Trees"
[Reply]
Melissa Irwin
11:21 am
I usually go toward great music and some of my funniest best friends!!
Life is just plain hard and we need so many things to keep us going. We seek Him 1st so we can then feed the broken and hurting.
Your posts were simply beautiful last week.
Praying for y’all as you go “back to normal.”
Fran’s last blog post..Are we helping them or hurting them?
[Reply]
Fran
11:26 am
Often God breaks our hearts at just the right moments, and in the overflow allows us to fall in love with Him all over again. I know that trip was a gift to all of you who traveled to India as well as those whom you met there.
katdish’s last blog post..God Work (by Billy Coffey)
[Reply]
katdish
11:30 am
What keeps me going when life gets nuts?? It can vary, some days a quite spot outside reading a good book, journaling or just relaxing. Other times it’s music, dancing and old faithful- chocolate!
It was nice to travel with you and the team to India.
Michelle’s last blog post..They
[Reply]
Michelle
11:30 am
Have to find a promise in His Word to hold on to for the moment I’m in….His Word is true and His love is unfailing because He is Holy….yeah, and sometimes I forget all of that and do just like Gina said…CRY!!!
[Reply]
Deb
11:31 am
I read “what keeps you going in life when things get difficult?” over and over, and I think about the expectation my father has.
He has always expected and I’ve always felt it was expected of me to push forward no matter how terrible or difficult the situation might be. Almost like it’s not
an option not to keep going forward.
Even when a situation might cause me to stop in my tracks, his hand is always there to propell me forward and in doing
that, I learn to keep going no matter what.
I think that comes from my grandfather who sent him out to sell papers without a coat on christmas eve and wouldn’t let him come home until all the papers were sold.
He learned going foward was not an option either. It was just what he had to do.
Same thing with the stories I’ve heard about my grandfather’s father. It’s like this thing being passed down from older to
younger.
So yeah, I don’t think it’s things like cookies and music that keep me going. I just don’t think it’s an option to stop going forward in life.
[Reply]
Brandon
11:46 am
Pete Thank You, and I thank God for your heart and what He is doing in your life.
My new son arrived today Vinod from Lydia Children’s Student Center India. He will be 7 in June.
[Reply]
Debra Payette
11:51 am
Chocolate…friends…prayer…singing…American TV Dramas (nothing will make you feel more sane than American TV Drama)
If i’m really mad, knocking out someone on Wii Boxing and driving in my car listening to VERY LOUD rock or punk music. And having a good rant on Twitter. Oops.
Brunettekoala’s last blog post..Productive day. Indecisive weather.
[Reply]
Brunettekoala
11:53 am
I am really fighting with this right now Pete.
I have a really positive outlook on life and it keeps me going but I still lack a mentor. Someone who can listen to me instead of needing me to be the mentor.
I have been searching for small groups to help but have not found one I connect with yet.
As for you Mr. Wilson…thank you. Thank you for the work you do and the trip you just finished.
You are ever inspiring!
joseph’s last blog post..tourism strikes back at biden
[Reply]
joseph
12:04 pm
What keeps me going? For me it is the getting out of my own misery (much of it is self made anyway) and being, as Mother Teresa said, “the pencil in God’s hand.” When I allow Him to use me to touch another’s life, I am given perspective. I am blessed. Sometimes, I just need the eyes to see it.
Denise’s last blog post..Rerun #1 – The Scream
[Reply]
Denise
12:18 pm
And you didn’t even add my favorite of your India pics… the last one in this post: http://withoutwax.tv/2009/04/30/lets-talk-about-sex-compassion-international-india-sex-slavery/
[Reply]
Kaira
12:30 pm
I think it was Howard Hendricks who wrote, “If you can’t stand the smell of sheep; don’t be a shepherd.” What keeps me going? Knowing someone (with both a capital S and non-capital S) kept going for me…
[Reply]
Jack Hager
12:38 pm
Tears streamed down my face viewing the photos capturing the images in India. What makes me keep going despite it all, is knowing there is a loving, caring, and generous God that pursues me everyday.
[Reply]
Vicki
12:38 pm
What keeps me going?
Jesus! Why? Because you don’t have to look far to see the oppressed, broken, and the lonely. I love that our church has the Luke 4 challenge. To serve our future, our city, and our world. To love on Teens through the Student Union that has received awards through the city for their Be The Difference program about bulling. To love on the people of Cincinnati who need it the most through our Healing Center. Any type of need that a person could have is there for them. Food, clothes, prayer, and help finding jobs to support their family. Lastly we gave Back to Back Ministry out of Nigeria a drilling rig so that people there could have clean water. I get really teary eyed when I watch videos of our progress with our Luke 4 Challenge. I hope one day to go on Missions Trip to help people out. I love helping people locally by giving food and out grown clothes to the healing center. This year my 4 yr old, 2 yr old, and myself are trying out gardening. We will NEVER use HALF of what we are growing. So I hope to drop off the fresh veggies to the Healing Center for some impoverish family to have. I am also currently in school to be a nurse. I can’t wait to literally heal people with my own hands. I really feel that Jesus has given me a heart for his people. Even though last week was bad for me it wasn’t as bad as someone who can’t find food or loose a child to a river miles from home to get clean water. All this and more keeps me going. No matter what Jesus is the answer.
[Reply]
Faith
12:43 pm
@Kaira, that one get’s me every time.
[Reply]
Pete Wilson
12:47 pm
What keeps me going? … lots of prayer, forgiveness of my short-comings and others’ and lots of encouragement from others and His word.
1 Peter 4:10 reads “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” My favorite word in that scripture is “various” – there are many, different, unique ways you can share God’s love, peace, hope, joy – and yes, grace. Start with what you think you can do, then stretch to do something you think you can’t and God will pull you just a littler farther each time, until you’re doing things you never thought possible. I have a song coming out called “Start with One,” which speaks to my own feelings of doubt and unworthiness to make a difference. God asks us to follow Him and to reach out to others. It can be simple or elaborate, but we all just need to start.
Thank you for sharing your insight and your stories.
[Reply]
Mela Kamin
1:07 pm
Pete, I told you many times, I love your heart. Thanks for sharing. Most people don’t realize that real ministry is founded on the desire to love people, not the title or position. Thanks for giving a snapshot into the heart of a genuine leader and man. You’re awesome. Welcome home…….Always praying for you and CP that God will use your heart to change thousands more lives.
Michael Robison’s last blog post..The New Building Kick-Off
[Reply]
Michael Robison
1:14 pm
Isn’t it the truth? Ministry is NOT easy… My hubby and I are in a time of healing and refocusing from ‘overdoing’ ourselves a bit. I can’t wait to see how God will use us after He refines us. Such great stuff is ahead, to reach the world and change it for HIM! Thanks for your thoughts throughout your trip. I’m excited to follow your church and see all thats going on there!
kara-kae james’s last blog post..do everything without WHAT???
[Reply]
kara-kae james
1:14 pm
Watched you guys do the Mogulus broadcast LIVE from India last week. Powerful.
I somehow bet that the massive vision God gave you, that you said is 10 years away, directly involves those people. The broken people… hurting people… impoverished people. And I’d be willing to affirm the vision coming true because your focus appears to be centered on the things (the people) that matter to God. That’s a beautiful thing.
For me, what keeps me going is a knowing that God put me here for a reason. Sounds cliché but I truly believe my life has a Kingdom purpose. It may not be one giant purpose that comes in the form of “recognition, ” “praise” or “fame” but it’s a purpose that comes in doing my best to make an impact every day. Looking back in retrospect I see God’s hands all over my life, I see the intersections. That causes me to look optimistically forward with a knowing that He has great things in store as long as I stay focused on Him and what He cares about versus getting caught up in what the world says and the things that don’t really matter.
I also resolved a while ago not to have circumstantial faith and to trust God no matter what the situation. Easier said than done but since I have made that a conscious thought, it’s amazing how it helps keep me focused.
[Reply]
Daniel Decker
1:15 pm
Leaving a legacy to my kids keep me going. After all, how am I to expect them to live to Jesus if they don’t see me doing the same? They see my actions and my attitude, even those days when I am tired.
[Reply]
Kelly
1:19 pm
Pete,
It isn’t easy for any of us to find words of expression for your trip last week with Compassion. The most important things in life are very simple, and India intersects most if not all of them.
[Reply]
Chris Coppernoll
2:14 pm
Glad you all made it back safe and sound. Can’t wait to hear more about your experiences after you have had time for reflection. In regards to your question, I have no advice. You just have to keep going and live for the future. Things in one moment can seems hopeless, but in the next more of the plan may be revealed. I try and live moment by moment knowing that it is part of a bigger plan only He knows and I can’t wait to see what is revealed!
Jessica’s last blog post..compassion
[Reply]
Jessica
2:22 pm
What keeps me going at my job?
The need to eat and not sleep on the ground in the rain and believe me that’s about it.
What keeps me going in ministry? Even though not paid staff we are ALL ministers of the gospel.
Seeing one more person who really needs Jesus. (Sorry that sounds like the Sunday School answer but it is the absolute truth!)
What keeps me going in my marriage?
The most understanding woman God could have ever made. I mean that too.
What keeps my true friendships going?
Excluding my wife, I really only have one person I could call a REAL friend. One I could tell anything to and not be judged. What keeps that friendship going?
E-mails….
[Reply]
Harold
2:51 pm
Pete, thank you so much for allowing us to “be there” with you in India. I know I was deeply affected by your experiences that you shared with everyone. Your experiences and blogs of stories such as Kiran have truly inspired me in my role as a volunteer Advocate for Compassion. It is awesome how the Lord uses experiences of others to break us even more to speak up and reach out for these precious children and their families. Thank you and God bless.
[Reply]
Shawn
3:10 pm
@Shawn, You bet. Thanks for all you do for Compassion!
[Reply]
Pete Wilson
4:54 pm
Pete,
This is a great post. For me, I really think its the calling and stewadrship. Knowing God has called me to raise my girls to know Him, to preach the Gospel, to be the light of the world. To be a steward of my church, my home, my family, the Word.
daniellehodgson’s last blog post..Be: Content
[Reply]
daniellehodgson
5:20 pm
Has your GI tract recovered? India has a way of torturing westerners from within.
Glad you are back and glad you were moved. My two weeks in India were spent while the presidential election was heating up. At that time, the airwaves were filled with how bad things were in the U.S. At that moment, I realized how that “bad” is simply a matter of perspective. My India experience certainly altered my world view and made me more grateful for all that we have her in the United States.
[Reply]
Nate VZ
6:03 pm
It takes alot to keep me going. Jesus, prayre, my spouse, friendship, family and somedays just your blogs when I am not fit for a person to keep me going and too stubborn to go to Jesus. Thanks for sharing and leading by example.
[Reply]
Gina T
6:32 pm
This may sound cheesy but it’s the truth: What keeps me going when things become difficult… is just going back to basics and remembering that the bottom line is, I just want to please God with my life and obey Him. This way of thinking has helped not too long ago when marriage didn’t seem worth fighting for, when I wanted to give in to temptations, and it’s helped when serving at church seemed fearful, etc. What God cares about is all that matters. I want to hear him say one day, “well done good and faithful servant”.
Brenda’s last blog post..Some Dim Sum
[Reply]
Brenda
6:36 pm
Never look away from HIS eyes!
Falguni Patel’s last blog post..Waiting Is Hard
[Reply]
Falguni Patel
8:32 pm
No matter how much people annoy, frustrate or hurt me,…it’s my love and compassion for these same people – who need Christ (whether they’ve met Him before or not) that keeps me going. I want a changed world, and that won’t happen if I’m focusing on me.
David (@dg4G)’s last blog post..Worship…and some other stuff : 3 May 2009
[Reply]
David (@dg4G)
10:34 pm
music, music, music, singing, music, worship, time-out, singing, music, music, comfort food, worship, singing, sleep, singing, Angie’s blog, music, FAITH.
That’s what keeps me going.
Jen’s last blog post..Will I be forgiven if I post pics of the kids?
[Reply]
Jen
1:00 am
I hope you don’t mind I kind of started following your blog when you went to India with Melissa. I just so enjoyed reading about your experiences and then also seeing the pics.
What do I do when the going gets tough? I pray. I know, sounds super spiritual doesn’t it? In reality though, that is what I do. I know of no other way to get strength or peace or joy or a boost to keep going. I can tell you of time after time after time that I was “at the end of myself” and I cried out to the Lord and my heart was changed. Quitting is not an option.
Kels
[Reply]
Kels
1:52 am
Yes, it’s the people. God made each one of them. And HE loves them perfectly. And for just a few, he wants ME to get involved. Jesus, give me the faith to do it!
Abbie’s last blog post..The little things
[Reply]
Abbie
2:46 am
freak! that is passionate, real, and motivational. Great post man.
brewster’s last blog post..Carlitos Way
[Reply]
brewster
6:09 am
I’m not sure what I used to do but it seems like lately it has been a lot like you are tlaking about. I think about the kids I worked with in the Dominican and the pure joy on their faces. Then I start trying to figure out what I might be missing because in our times of greatest despair are our greatest opportunities and callaings.
Chris Sullivan’s last blog post..Walking Away $$$
[Reply]
Chris Sullivan
12:16 pm
What keeps me going when things get tough is the knowledge that God desires to give us a future and a hope. I have been relying on this fact greatly since being laid off in March. Things are uncertain through my eyes, but He already knows that things will be okay. What also keeps me going is knowing that He is in control and I am not. Thank God for His goodness.
[Reply]
Shawn
8:20 pm
I love this post because a lot of times I battle and judge people for not “feeding the hungry”…shameful, I know but God does (for the believers) call us to many different things and for so many it is not overseas missions. So thank you for being passionate for serving on that side. Thank you for loving people where they are at. Thank you for that example of Biblical integrity. Thank you for showing us that so many times “hungry” means sometimes something other then literal food. You challenged me by this one.
kristiapplesauce’s last blog post..Exceptional
[Reply]
kristiapplesauce
1:18 am
Pete, thank you so much for shaing your heart with us. I have been in youth ministry for 14 years, 11 at this church. I know how you feel and I am motivated by the same things. The other day I was really struggling and I was working out at the YMCA in my town. A guy that I had never seen before approached me and shared Galatians 6:9. It lit my soul on fire. I pray that when you get tired it will fan your gift into flame. Bless you!
[Reply]
Brady
9:43 am
What keeps me going…
Ministry…there are so many hurting ppl that need to know Him
Parenting…getting to see my 3 boys turn in the God-serving men that I have been praying for for 21 years now!
Life…Friends, scripture. music, exercise
[Reply]
Jen
4:43 pm
I hope they had great birthdays! That video is stinking HILARIOUS!
[Reply]
Melody
11:31 pm
Hi Pete,
What keeps me going is the belief Jesus didn’t die for me just to sit in a pew and breathe on Sunday mornings. The belief if I am to grow, I have to allow God to knock me out of my comfort zone. The belief if I am to hear God, I have to listen for him.
These things keep me going.
Blessings to you and yours!
Cecil Chaney
Madisonville Kentucky
Cecil Chaney’s last blog post..New Look Coming
[Reply]
Cecil Chaney
9:13 am
Hi Pete, thank u so much for writing this post so honestly. It’s encouraged me on my walk. i see the perseverance and the strength of your heart, as one called to serve the Body of Christ. God bless, El
[Reply]
Eleanor
3:13 pm
1 Trackback