Confessions of a Jet-Ski rider

I saw a Waverunner for sale the other day. It brought back memories.

I owned a Waverunner for many years and loved the feeling of being on the water early on a calm clear day. Long before the other boats were out, when the lake Milton was just one huge mirror, I loved to throttle my Yamaha wide open and race across the surface.

Strange thing about running wide open it's only fun for so long before you get tired of it. Wide open makes every turn, every maneuver hazardous. The slightest swell is an obstacle. Splash boom. Splash boom. Wide open your body has to absorb every jarring splash as the boat skims over even the slightest waves. Wide open you can't enjoy the scenery, your eyes fixed on water ahead. Wide open you can't tow a skier, a wake boarder, a knee boarder. Wide open burns fuel at a ridiculously insane rate.

Wide open is no fun for those left behind in the wake as you speed by. It's frustrating to the other boaters, other skiers since they never know when you will turn and crash and burn. Wide open.

Wide open is all about the speed and never about beauty of the lake.

Wide open.

Wide open is too often how I want to do ministry, blazing ahead, throttle wide open, flying across the river of life. There's a rush about what comes with a wide open lifestyle, a wide open ministry philosophy. But strange thing about running wide open, you can only do it for so long, before the body tires of a hasty turn leads to a crash and burn.

Wide open.

How are you running as a leader? Have you been running wide open for too long?

Throttle back and enjoy the ride. You'll stay on the water longer.

Answering the Call

I was reading in a military history journal [1] this last week and came across this amazing story. I was reminded of what leaders do.

January 15, 1777, in Fort Edward N.Y a tavern owner named Henry Francisco enlisted in the Continental Army. He went on to fight through the Saratoga campaign before he was discharged for medical reasons on April 20, 1778. Attached to Colonel Seth Warner's famed Green Mountain Boys regiment, Francisco saw action in the Battles of Hubbardton, Bennington, Freeman's Farm and ultimately at Bemis Heights. What was so unusual about this volunteer? He was 91 years old at the time of his enlistment.


The story is recorded that at the battle of Bennington a Captain Stafford sought to remove an old man of slender build with a slight stooped framed from the line before assaulting the redoubt [2]. Not desiring to be relegated to merely guarding the baggage, the old man came forward and addressed the captain and politely objected. "Not until I've had a shot at them first, Captain, if you please." His reply sparked a riotous cheer leading the Captain to send the men and the elderly warrior forward to the redoubt.


Francisco, an old warrior, refusing to be sidelined from the battle, inspired those around him when he answered the call.


Abraham was 100.
Moses was 80.
I'm turning 52.

As leaders, no matter what our age, may we answer the call in such a way, that our refusal to be sidelined spurs on those around us. Amen!