arrrrrgh. There are days the details kill me. It’s Valentine’s day, I’m working from home with a sick child, still in my pj’s at 6 pm, have not showered in 2 days and our team is working like mad to do all of those “little” things. From name badges, evaluation forms, participant manuals, signs, and logistics, logistics, logistics. My email is making that “new email noise” (is there a word for that?) so often it’s actually comical.

Amidst the chaos of it all, there is a certain excitement that comes with this pace. Maybe its a touch of hysteria mixed with sleep deprivation and adrenaline, but I like to think I smell God in this. (or maybe that’s my “earthy” scent, not sure.) Anyway, despite dozens upon dozens of emails back and forth with speakers, staff, volunteers–and even attendees…there is a common thread in it. We’re all in the final stretch–it’s in full view…we’re almost here.

It reminds me of the time I ran a half marathon. It started out down the mountains, which was so thrilling–running fast with the pack, completely energized. Towards mile five we’d all thinned out, the sun was blasting, and I was getting grouchy. By mile 7, I was running down an empty stretch of back country road, and not a person was in sight. (except for a larger middle-aged woman lumbering along about 50 yards in FRONT of me) I had to turn off my mp3 player–I’d filled it entirely with worship music–as this was going to be 13 miles of running, prayer and worship, and my newfound cursing felt akward amidst praise-filled lyrics. By mile 9 I was so numb I didn’t realize I’d lost bladder control until I felt my shoes sloshing with every step. (unfortunate overuse of B vitamins was also apparent.)

I was actually sobbing into mile 11, but reduced it to a whimper as I noticed that there were suddenly a lot more runners along the road (the big 10K race merged into the marathon course for the final leg, and the really good full-marathon runners were now overrunning us.) An older gentleman ran up along beside me and just said 3 simple words, “stay with me.” I’m not sure what happened then, but I got stronger. He and I stepped up a hearty pace, the course turned into the city and the crowds were cheering. It was a sea of faces–all yelling, encouraging, clapping, and there was a huge pack of us running until the finish line.

There was kinship in the humanity of that last mile. I feel that this week. The co-runners in this journey to Cincinnati are all of us who have strived to get here. I’ve talked to youth workers who are making this journey despite incredible hardships and sacrifices, and speakers who have endured some of the most gut-wrenching months of their lives. It’s heart-breaking and inspiring.

We’re in the merging zone now…it’s where we all run this last mile in together. I love this part.

I was just reading Josh Griffin’s blog about Skyline Chili in Cinncinnati. He’s never had it, and a bunch of Cincy folks are trying to explain it. Having gone to college at Miami of Ohio outside of Cincinnati, I lived on the stuff for 4 years! In the fall I went to visit the Duke Energy Center, and saw a Skyline Chili cart in the conference center lobby.  I think the highlight of the trip was discovering that we could hijack that cart for the conference and take it down to our end of the convention center right outside the general session area! It’s all ours for 4 days! I’m hoping they’re open for breakfast!

With Monday being Martin Luther King day and the recent overload of registrations hitting our system, we’re extending the conference advanced registration deadline through Tuesday to accommodate the stragglers and hopefully spread out the load! If you haven’t haven’t registered yet, do it now to grab the advanced savings, and avoid any possible technical malfunctions!

I have the humbling privilege of leading a really great group of  volunteers. They function incredibly well in their roles–it’s sort of intimating how excellent they are–because they’re so much better than I am. I’m always in awe of the things they do, and who they are.

The volunteers I work with are actually so awesome they deserve extra-special appreciation, and I’m always dreaming up over-the-top ways to recognize them and honor their excellence with an appropriately excellent affirmation. I think up really cool and crazy stuff they’ll never forget!

Problem is, I rarely ever get beyond the lovey-squishy thoughts because my attention gets snagged on something else,  time marches forward, and the affirmation gets so embarrassingly late that it goes completely undone.  Worse yet, because I had spent so much time thinking about doing something so sweet and incredible, I give myself partial credit for thinking about it.

It’s shallow, selfish, an abuse of rationalization and poor leadership. Affirmation isn’t about a grand display, it’s about an authentic expression of gratitude.  Whether it’s a personal note, a hug in the hallway or a phone call to just say thank you, it’s not the presentation that matters. Volunteers (or anyone, for that matter) don’t need to be “wowed”, they need to be valued. It’s about stopping to recognize their gifts–not grandstanding one’s own in the midst of the expression.

And whether it’s a creative thank you or just a simple affirmation–none of it counts unless you actually do it. I’ve really gotta work on that. 

I tend to mimic the personality of the person I email with exaggerated punctuation. I’ve recently been emailing Jeanne Mayo, founder of Youth Leader’s Coach, and the most brilliant human-sparkler of a person I know. I looked over a string of emails we just exchanged, and every single sentence I compsed has a minimum of 2 exclamation points. I used 9 exclamation points several times… and these emails are just about hotel confirmation, parking and airfare. 

My emails have turned into turn into e-squeals!!!!!!!!!

just a few in large store parking lots would be nice. They’d have a blinking light above the spaces so I could find where I parked my car. They’d also be located close enough to the entrance so when I reached my car and realized I’d left my keys AND cellphone somehwhere inside the store, running back and forth wouldn’t suck that much.

Believe it or not, Doug, Josh and the gang are really on the ball this month. The Christmas episode of the Simply Youth Ministry Podcast is in the can and it should arrive later today. Not much youth ministry in there though, just as a warning.

Natalie’s bummed because her tree doesn’t shine as brightly now. My solar calculator is working though–I’m happy about that.  

Had an amazing night on Friday listening to Jeremy Riddle. Although it was a concert, it turned out to be an incredible worship experience with a powerful take-away about abiding in God’s presence. I’ve actually been thinking about that message all weekend. Hmmmmmm.

I haven’t listened to it yet, but Doug, Josh, Jana and Matt just finished taping a podcast yesterday- actually, it’s kind of a big deal since they’ve been scattered lately. Check out Simply Youth Ministry’s Episode 62 hitting iTunes later this week. I think they’re talking about senior pastors…it should be interesting.