2009

The fullness of heart as 2010 advents compels, even obligates me to express the deepest gratitude accompanying my thoughts of 2009 and of the many who have and continue to be shining examples of God in the darkest places of our community.

Gratitude for Family

First as a friend of God, provided through Jesus Christ, I remain happily enslaved to His will, His purpose and His intention. Crystal, as the prime earth bound constant is without equal in her love towards me and her followership of God. My sons, daughters and grandchildren continue to make me glad for being on this planet.

Gratitude for Cherry Street Mission Ministries

The Board of Directors:
From Jamey Schmitz our Board Chair to all who serve in this vital position of leadership your kindness for the community is realized each day we serve the hundreds of men, women and families arriving at one of our doors.

The Staff:
With nearly 70 men and women on staff at Cherry Street I am grateful for each one. Here are a few who stand the gap in amazing ways. Liz, who assists me with the smallest and largest of detail, serves without hesitation. Rodney who tirelessly serves to communicate the message to our donors and volunteers. Cheryl who keeps the lights on and helps us live to serve another day. Charles who loves our men, Angie who loves our women, Cindy who loves to educate, Renee who feeds the multitude, Bob who keeps our facilities in working order, Amy who is devoted to integrity of message, Roz who loves our volunteers. The list of staff, their accolades and their epic feats of service could go on for ever - like Kim, Evangeline, Matt, Molly, Jacob, Jenny and so many more ... thank you.

Gratitude for the Social Fabric Partnership:

1Matters, Food For Thought, LifeLine, The Pharmacy Counter, Mercy Health, Promedica, UT, BGSU, Joshua Generation, TLCHB, TAAEH, Reentry Coalition, Toledo Area Ministries, WLMB TV 40, WPOS, YMCA/JCC, New Life, New Harvest, Vision, CedarCreek, 1st Alliance, Westgate, 1st Church, Truth at Work, Hylant, Andersons, Toledo Community Foundation, LaSalle Cleaners, BrandEd ... this list is only the beginning of a rather exhaustive body of work - thank you.

Gratitude for the Friendships of Service:

Dennis, Martha, Ken, Don, Tana, Calvin, Christine, Warwick, Roz, Charles, Doug, Linda, Stephanie, George, Sarah, Jim, Lee, Gary, Mike, Keith, Dave, Steve, Randy, Deb, Chris, Tricia, Pete, Larry, Brand, Kevin, Scott, Jerry, John ... too, too many more, all great in the sight of man and God - thank you.

Gratitude for our Guests:

The many men, women and families who are served each day through the ministries of Cherry Street are the vital rebuilders of ruined places and are the mighty Oaks of God's planting so that generations to come will testify of His love for humanity - that none should perish.

Happy New Year All!

Dan
A Runner

Inefficient

Last night Crystal and I stopped across the street at a friends house who has a monthly community dinner for friends and neighbors. While we didn't stop by out of some undisciplined sense of obligation, we could only stay for a minute and without even taking our coats off wished all well and we were off.

The season of 'the rush' once again, is upon us.

You want to talk about the ultimate in schizophrenia, I'm the guy who teaches; 'you must be efficient with stuff, so you have time to be inefficient with people'. Relationships, the great ones anyway, need a tremendous amount of what can only be defined as ... inefficient.

In order to connect with people, you must invest unbelievable amounts of time doing seemingly nothing, like sitting for hours on end talking, laughing, drinking coffee and making merry - oh that reminds me, Merry Christmas before I forget and rush out of this conversation ....

The marketers are on to us. They have officially synthesized a word complete with a definition and an accompanying list of behaviors which frame like a set of bookends a neat little package so we can, I suppose, feel better about not being better - which is what a good definition and solid list of behavioral traits accomplishes.

Polychron: An ultra busy person experiencing chronic busyness.

Chronic busyness results in high expectations for convenience and the need for control and choices. While there are three specific behavioral traits associated with polychronism, let me give you the most important ... a polychron will frequently shut down emotionally.

Shut down emotionally.

Ironic isn't it? The one time of year where emotions are likely to run the highest; joy, exuberance of visiting friends and family, love, peace and an abiding sense of God's embrace ... is also the time of year we're the most likely to disconnect.

Here's today's question; 'In what way will you (and me obviously) intentionally commit lavish inefficiency's upon those around you?

The powerful Dickens tale of 'The Scrooge' hopefully reminds us today; it's not too late to be inefficient. For many of us, we've had our visits from the memories of seasons past, are reminded of our seasons present and perhaps concerned for seasons yet to come ... now what?

The good news is - we know what the what is!

For each of us it will be different. Each of us already know the relational intersections we're blowing through. Our speed is so fast through these intersections, there's no cautionary slow down nor is there even a looking both ways manner.

Eventually of course, we'll cause an accident, some of us will leave the scene acting as though we weren't culpable - others of us will mourn the loss and some will remember for seasons to come, the time when we ....

You know what the what is, because the Who lives within you. Go ahead, give the greatest gift this year - the one God gives every day through Jesus Christ; lavish inefficiency.

For me? I've got some friends across the street who need to see me with my coat off.

Dan
A Runner