The Silly Season...

Hello, friends! 

As most, if not all, of you know, I am a HUGE baseball fan.  Seriously, a HUGE baseball fan.  But, it isn't just about baseball, although that is my favorite.  I'll watch and participate in anything where folk are competing.  I have favorites in MLB (Cardinals), NFL (Dolphins), NBA (Spurs), NHL (Blues), NASCAR (Matt Kenseth), EPL (Tottenham Hotspur), and the USA in all international competitions.  Besides being athletic in nature (yes, NASCAR takes athleticism), all these sports have one thing in common: They all have really long seasons. 

In baseball, it's called the Dog Days of summer.  In the NFL it's the mid-season lull, and in the NBA it's the pre-All-Star Break part of the season.  It's the time of the year when you've been at it long enough that the season doesn't feel new anymore but you're too far away from the end for there to be any sense of urgency.  My favorite name for it is when NASCAR calls it the Silly Season.  This is when the play gets a little bit sloppier, the tempers are a little bit feistier, and you can tell that everyone would like a few days off to recharge their batteries. 

Speaking from a Campus Ministry standpoint, we haven't entered the silly season quite yet but I can tell that we are getting into that range.  New Student Outreach isn't quite over but getting students (or staff for that matte) up for tabling or meeting new folk doesn't have the same appeal, especially when there are already new students to be investing in right now.  School is just about 4 weeks old so no one has quite found their rhythm yet but folk are starting to feel the pressure of the first round of tests.  Yet, we are still early enough in the semester that no one is starting to freak out about their finals or graduation.  (Ok, there may be some who are freaking out but those folk probably started the semester that way, right?)  =0). 

The dangerous thing about the Silly Season is that it leads to complacency.  When things get a little boring the temptation is to take your foot off the gas and coast for a bit.  The problem with that is that there is no guarantee that you'll be able to kick things back into gear later.  The best teams are the ones who find a way to fight through the temptation to let things ride and are always looking for ways to get better. 

Honestly, there is still a lot of work to be done.  There are still students to be reached.  There are still leaders to be developed.  There are still opportunities to be seized for the kingdom.  There are still new places to scout and interns to train.  There are still ministry partnerships to be developed.  There are still conferences to plan and to recruit for as well.  Now is not the time to be slacking.  It is the time to be preparing things for the home stretch, even if it is still 2 months away. 

Friends, please continue to pray for us during this season, or as we enter this season.  Pray for Megan and me, that we will lead well and continue to go to Jesus for our strength.  Pray for the students, that they will continue to be inspired by the Gospel.  Pray for our interns and volunteers, that they will see our example and continue to move forward with the good work set in front of them.  Above all, please pray that God will continue to move in Mid-Missouri and that we will get to partner with him in that good work. 

Have an excellent day! 

~Adam