I (don't) Quit

The following is a letter to Doug Fields (well-known youth ministry guy) from his friend, also in youth ministry.  It's included in one of Fields' very popular books and it's something that has really struck me in the last few months.  

"Doug,

     I quit youth ministry yesterday.  I got tired of hearing about how I need to make sure those youth behave during the worship service like I am the church bouncer.

     I got tired of parents who don't live Christian lifestyles and expect me to mold their kids in the few hours a week we have them and then when the kids screw up, the fault is the youth ministry not being deep enough.

     I got tired of those kids who play the game of being spiritual, but then live like they have never heard of Jesus.

     I got tired of adults who do not have a clue about youth ministry but have an outline of how I should do my job.

     I got tired of people not respecting the youth ministry calendar by scheduling the facilities and taking them away from students.

     I got tired of people who believe that the way we did church in 1948 worked and that it should still work today.

     I got tired of people who have complaints but instead of going to those with whom they have a beef, they make phone calls to gripe to dozens of other people in the congregation.

     I got tired of people who do not spend personal time with the Lord (by their own admission) but yet think they should run the church.

     I got tired of people who think my wife is also an employee of the church and should be available at all times.

     I got tired of people who keep asking when I am going to pastor my own church and become a "real" minister.

     I got tired of people who think youth workers can't be trusted and need constant supervision.

     I got tired of working late and people thinking that is what I should do.

     I got tired of people asking, "What do you do all day when the kids are in school?"

     I got tired of all the times that I failed and felt so inadequate to do this job.

     Bottom line.... I just got tired of being tired all the time!

     However, I was smart enough not to tell anyone that I quit. I went home, spent some time with my family (and I did not burden them with my quitting), spent some time in prayer, and got a good night's sleep. I am back on the job today. I have read Ephesians 6:13 and am steadfast that I will still remain standing (and not quit).

      Those same people who I was tired of yesterday are still in my life, but somehow God has given me grace to love them today. I am grateful for having the best job in the world, the opportunity to be used of God as a conduit for his grace to influence young lives. I am so glad that when I quit on God yesterday, that he refused to quit on me.

       Today, I'm making a commitment to last because what God has called me to is too important to quit.

    

  Your friend and (still) fellow youth worker,

                                                                       Brian" 

Let me be really clear... I'm NOT quitting.  In fact, far from it.  But as I read this letter and relate to a few of the things he "got tired" of, I'm encouraged by the last few lines of the letter.  I do have the best job in the world and for that I'm grateful.  And although I give God a million reasons to quit on me every single day, He doesn't.  He just doesn't.  Amazing.