Rep at Large - It's Official

Nothing like seeing your name in lights.  But there it is.  As of the NASFAA conference business meeting and the end of this year's annual conference, I have officially begun my two year service as a member of the NASFAA Board of Directors.

And I have a feeling I will be in for a very interesting ride.

I had the opportunity to sit in the peanut gallery of the current board of directors to "dip my toe" back into the waters of NASFAA service.  I have also already received two official board memos from the NASFAA President, Justin Draeger.  I cannot tell you how good it feels to be back in the saddle and part of the game.

But there is one point of bitter sweet.  This conference was Jeff Baker's last.  Jeff is the Department of Education's Policy Liaison and Implementation Director.  I have received my most up-to-date federal news from Jeff since the moment I first arrived on the scene in financial aid.  He was one of the reasons that I knew I was going to fall in love with this profession.  Here was this crusty old guy (and I think he would be ok with me describing me in this way), who had to say some pretty controversial stuff at times, but who was real, authentic and honest in his delivery.  His dedication to financial aid and his job was easy to observe.  His interest in listening to the financial aid community and his understanding of the challenges we face was a relief.  His shoes, and the imprint they have made, are large indeed.

I will miss Jeff.  And Jeff, in answer to your comment during your final Federal Update, when you were talking, I totally was ALWAYS taking notes.

Moses - A Regular Guy

Tomorrow it's my turn to do the children's sermon.  The Bible story for this week?  Moses and the burning bush.  Sweet!  I love Bible stories like this one.  Any Sunday School attending Methodist kid worth their salt knows this story and with a little prompting - you just sit back and let the kids do your job.  Real Mark Twain stuff.

But Boy Howdy.  I can feel the hand of God in and around this moment and this promise I made over a month ago.  God is with me, God has been with me this whole time, and God will remain with me forever.  It is an incredibly comforting thought. 

My Bible verse from yesterday was Psalms 119.  "Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles."  The devotion was on the challenges of parenting.  "God will sometimes stir up ingredients in your life like suffering, struggling and pain to remind you to depend on him...God promises he will be with you in it and through it, and he will preserve your life.  The process is not always enjoyable in any realm of thinking, but...in those moments, you must be aware that the promise of his presence on the other side is your hope!"

And tomorrow, I get to talk about the story of Moses and the burning bush with a renewed sense of understanding.  God asked Moses, at the ripe age of 80 years old, to lead a virtual city of Jews out of the land of Egypt to the promised land.  And what I love most about Moses is that his reactions to this news are so real.  First, he is curious..."Looky what we have here...a bush that is on fire but it isn't burning up?  Cooool."  Then, he is stupefied, "This is God.  God is talking to me?!  Whassat?  Quick, take off your shoes...better bow...holy moly!"  And finally, God drops the bomb.

And Moses - with every bit of knowledge of the importance of the request - says to God - "Ummm, are you sure?  I mean, I don't think I'm the right person for that job."  His reaction is hilarious, priceless, incredibly normal, incredibly human.  But God answers him right back, "Hey dude, don't worry, I've got this.  I've got your back."

And that's the key right there.  God really does "have our back."  The hard part, is letting him. 

"God is good.  All the time."  And the people say, "All the time.  God is good."