Building Connections:

One thing I have really enjoyed about working with the Job Foundation is building connections with a lot of people.  I have gotten to meet so many different people and learn about non-profit organizations through this job at the Job Foundation.   I believe building connections is the great foundation for the Christian church.  It is so vital for christians and for everyone to build connections and to make friends and love with people from many different places.  

I recently have experienced that even more through just being at Cedar Falls.  Cedar Falls is the town where I went to college.  I went to UNI or the University of Northern Iowa, so because I live in the town I used to live in for college, I was able to build connections from college and continue to grow them in the new job I am at now.  Even today, I got invited back to one of my college’s picnics for new students as well as faculty.  It was a perfect chance to go and see some of my old professors and meet some older alumni.  

This has really also hit home recently when I did some reading of the book, “The Sacred Acre” by Mark Tabb.  This book was about Ed Thomas.  Ed Thomas was a very talented football coach living in Parkersburg, IA who won some state championships, helped coach many young football players to colleges, and the NFL, and he was even the winner of the NFL high school coach of the year.  He was very much talented, but more than that he was very beloved to those students and the players of whom he taught/coached.  He especially showed that, even amidst tragedy.  

On May 25th of 2008, Parksburge was hit with an EF5 tornado, destroying much of the town in its path.  Thomas went through a great amount of  heartbreak and devastation, as did most of the town.  They lost their house, and the school was badly destroyed.  However, he knew he couldn’t just sit there in self-pity.  He wanted to have his school back and he wanted the football team to make it back to their field.  Because of this, he made an outstanding goal to play the first scheduled football game on their field.  This was going to take a great deal of hard work and it would take a lot of hands.  However, they were able to do it.  Because of his hardwork and continued hope after this devastation, the town was able to get back to the place where they were before.   The town was starting to get its light back, and in a much faster timeline because Ed Thomas believed they could. The football season even made it to the second round of playoffs to get to the state competition.  They had a great season, and it was because the athletes wanted to work hard for both Ed Thomas and the Lord. 

There is another tragedy to this story.  A little over a year after the tornado took down the town, Ed Thomas was sadly and devastatingly murdered by a former athlete and student. This student was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.  He was very mentally ill at the time of the shooting.  This doesn’t mean to take away from the evil he bestowed on Ed’s family, students, and town.  I say this, so those can know that Ed really was beloved.  He wasn’t murdered by a hurt student, rather a student who had mental illness at the time.  

This town was in shock.  There were so many former colleagues, students, and just town people who loved Ed and loved the way he coached with authority yet integrity.  They loved the way he prayed with the students and taught them about Christ in a very non formal way.  They loved Him, and they were heartbroken.  Yet, there were many people who were touched and were inspired by him to go and follow Christ.  Many people came to his funeral and visitation where the Gospel was given to those in attendance, just as Ed would have desired.  Ed touched people.  He made connections, and in the end, people heard about Christ and came to be Christians. 

There are many verses in the Bible about building connections with others and about building relationships.  One example is 1 Thessalonians 3:12 which says, “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.”  This verse speaks of having a great love for everyone around us.  It is important to constantly be building connections with those around us, in any situation.  You have the ability to touch so many people, just when going about your daily life.  

My challenge for you this week is to go and make a new connection or a new relationship.  This could be starting a conversation with someone whether that be in the gym, or at your job, or even while at the grocery store.  I will work really hard to follow this challenge as well.  I can sometimes get very focused on myself, especially when I am super busy, and I am trying to really manage my time, but there are so many opportunities God wants to put in front of us to make connections.  I pray that good connections are made for all of you.