onething 07 has breathed its last breath. It was a long, drawn out, incredibly painful breath but it is, nonetheless, dead.
Until an hour ago, I thought I was to be among a group of 15 or so people unloading four 26′ U-Haul trucks. If you’ve never encountered a 26′ U-Haul truck you cannot understand my horror at the thought of beginning such a project at 3:30 in the morning. If you have encountered these monsters you most likely recoiled in terror at the very mention of such an endeavor.
Rather than standing in the cold, dark parking lot of FSM, I now find myself laying in the bed of my warm and well lit hotel room. Because of this I am fully convinced the Lord’s favor rests upon me.
I also find myself exhausted to the core of my being and a bit cranky. onething 07 brought its normal madness – 15,000 people, $1.5 million in bookstore product, a week of 15 hour work days, four days of sleep deprivation, etc. The list could continue on…and on…and on. I have nothing left to give – physically, emotionally or mentally. And yet…
I would do it all again next week.
I had a chance to sneak into worship for an hour on Saturday night. At that point I was already fried. I walked in with the intention of sitting in the back and not engaging at all. Mostly I wanted to hide from the bookstore. As I sat, I looked at a room of thousands who had given up their vacations and holidays to honor God.
In that moment I felt the weight of the responsibility of what we do every December. He has asked us to give 15,000 people a place to come together and worship in spirit and truth. It is an honor and a privilege that He would entrust us with such a task. I may be exhausted, but how many are refreshed and rejuvenated as they sleep tonight? How many encountered the presence of God? How many received the breakthrough for which they have cried out? Over the course of four days each year, I honor God and tell Him He is worthy by serving strangers and giving them an opportunity to sit at His feet. As I watched these strangers for whom I have labored I felt the joy of the Lord over our little gathering.
We are exhausted. Most of January is spent recovering from these four days in December. This conference is the hardest thing I do each year. Yet I would do it again next week if I could have that moment of His delight over us in the midst of our sacrifice. I would do it again.
That was a very exhausting conference indeed. I was bushed by the time it was all said and done. I was hugging my bed when I got home telling it how much i missed it… lol… good job to all you guys in KC
This year will be my first year working onething…although the first year I came I totally remember a feeling like the one you’re describing…how awesome and powerful it was that SO many people were there…to worship Jesus. To worship Him together. It was crazy, and I loved it! And now I’m here, and now I’m working it, and…I love it!