David Ralph

The Importance of Introspection

With just over two weeks left of my sabbatical (has it ever gone by quickly) I am sitting in Williams today and I am reflecting on many of the things that God has nudged me about over the last two plus months.  I have been reading through the four journals that I have written in this summer and I am amazed how God has spoken to me about the ministry at Lakeside but more importantly about what He has communicated to me personally about the stuff inside of me.   Because I have had lots of time for introspection this summer (spending many days in solitude) I have been able to dig deeper into my heart and soul than I have probably done in the last 11 years.   It has been an incredible journey.  Sometimes it has been a bit painful.  I have experienced the double edged sword of God’s active and alive word and it has cut deep at times.  Some real surgery has been done.  It has revealed to me some of the things that I need to change about me.  Things that I need to do differently.

But it hasn’t all been negative.  It has revealed to me that I am to continue to lead the ministry of Lakeside and to lead with a greater zeal and passion and energy and focus.    God re-affirmed my call to ministry and to the ministry of Lakeside.  Not only have I reflected on what needs to change but I have had the chance to revisit and review all that God has done at Lakeside over the last 11 years.  It has made me realize what an awesome church community Lakeside is and how privileged I am to be part of it.  I have been reminded that God has given us an awesome mission of helping people experience authentic life in Jesus.  We have not been called to help people find religion but we have been called to help them find LIFE.  We have been called to help those who are broken to find healing.  We have been called to feed the hungry, cloth the naked, provide shelter to the homeless, minister to the widows and orphans (single moms and their kids), deal with injustice issue,  not only in our local community but around the world.  We have been called to be a biblically functioning community as described in Acts 2:42-47.

Through this time of rest and reflection and solitude, where I have been able to sense the promptings and nudging of the Holy Spirit, where I have been able to look at the ministry of Lakeside with fresh eyes, where I have been able to let God dig deep into my soul and reveal the changes that need to be made, where I have been able to read more than a dozens books, God has refreshed me and energized me.  He has given me a renewed zeal and passion and excitement for the ministry at Lakeside.  A zeal and passion that I felt when I first came to Lakeside more than 11 years ago.  I am so excited to return in September.  I can hardly wait. In many ways I wish it was tomorrow but I know there are a few lessons more to learn in the following weeks.

I am beginning to start my re-entry process as I start to think about the messages I will teach this fall.  I am studying through scripture and reading a few more books that will help shape the messages I will teach.   I am starting to make lists about the things that we need to “tweak” at Lakeside as we continue to work towards our mission.  I have made a list of the changes that I want to make in me and I have put it in the back of my current journal so I will look at it everyday to continually remind me and to keep me focused on them.  I still  have a few rounds of golf to get in before I get back and I will have a short get away next week.  I want to still visit three churches and I have a couple more books I would love to get through.  I have a sense that this will be like adding gasoline to the fire that is already burning inside of me.

My hope is that a large part of the Lakeside community will share the same passion and energy and zeal that I have for the next leg of the journey at Lakeside.  Although I have had the chance to reflect and review the past, I think our greatest days as a church community are ahead of us.  I can hardly wait.