When we want to go somewhere, we will go, and if it's really important to us, we will write it in our calendars and book the time off that we need. No matter how busy we are, no matter what things come up, we will make time for the people and things that we love. You wouldn't miss your own wedding day, would you? The things that are important to you, the things that you look forward to are the things that you make a priority in your life, no excuses.
I saw this with the Young Adults Misfit Conference we had last weekend—those that were excited to come and wanted to be there, were. And they stayed for the whole weekend; they made it their priority, and they made the weekend what is was. The amount of contacting and promoting Nigel and Dylan did leading up to the conference to give people enough time to work it into their schedules still blows my mind. And the level of excitement and encouragement from the local churches made me personally feel like our dream for unity was coming true. But on Friday and Saturday we wondered where all those people were. There were so many verbal confirmations and agreements. It's hard to look at a group of people and recognize the missing faces of those who you thought would be there. It's hard not to take it personally or not to get frustrated with people for choosing to be elsewhere...but that's where I'm wrong and need to be corrected. People go to things they want to go to and I have to be understanding of that and realize that not everyone is in the same place or values the same things as others do. In fact a couple of years ago I would have valued Halloween parties over church parties myself. It's hard not to get frustrated but I understand. And it's ok! Instead of becoming frustrated at those who don't come to something you've planned for them, recognize the ones that did come. That did choose to be present because it was important to them. Those are the people to focus on and celebrate with because they do value it- those people are the definition of Jesus misfits. And the ones that don't value it right now - that's ok because hopefully one day they will and who knows maybe they'll be the ones putting on the conferences and leading us. We are all in different places in our lives and in our faith walks and we all need love, patience and understanding. I am grateful for all the work that went into this conference and for all the people that made it happen. Thank you, and I'm looking forward to next years "misfit generation"!
- Jessica
I saw this with the Young Adults Misfit Conference we had last weekend—those that were excited to come and wanted to be there, were. And they stayed for the whole weekend; they made it their priority, and they made the weekend what is was. The amount of contacting and promoting Nigel and Dylan did leading up to the conference to give people enough time to work it into their schedules still blows my mind. And the level of excitement and encouragement from the local churches made me personally feel like our dream for unity was coming true. But on Friday and Saturday we wondered where all those people were. There were so many verbal confirmations and agreements. It's hard to look at a group of people and recognize the missing faces of those who you thought would be there. It's hard not to take it personally or not to get frustrated with people for choosing to be elsewhere...but that's where I'm wrong and need to be corrected. People go to things they want to go to and I have to be understanding of that and realize that not everyone is in the same place or values the same things as others do. In fact a couple of years ago I would have valued Halloween parties over church parties myself. It's hard not to get frustrated but I understand. And it's ok! Instead of becoming frustrated at those who don't come to something you've planned for them, recognize the ones that did come. That did choose to be present because it was important to them. Those are the people to focus on and celebrate with because they do value it- those people are the definition of Jesus misfits. And the ones that don't value it right now - that's ok because hopefully one day they will and who knows maybe they'll be the ones putting on the conferences and leading us. We are all in different places in our lives and in our faith walks and we all need love, patience and understanding. I am grateful for all the work that went into this conference and for all the people that made it happen. Thank you, and I'm looking forward to next years "misfit generation"!
- Jessica
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