It’s very rare that you will see me post a blog sans-picture. It’s also very rare that you will see me blog anything that would get me chewed out by my parents, because honestly they’re my most avid readers/responders. But I’m doing both tonight. I can’t help but give you a quick glimpse into the past 24 hours of my life.
This week for fall break, I’ve been blessed enough to go to the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. However, I had to go late. All the rest of the FSM and Fellowship Bible Church team drove up Wednesday, but we still wanted to have Thirsty and Echo, our Junior and Senior high youth services. So what does that mean? Enter: the intern. Me. I was really excited about it, because it meant I got to speak, fly, and still go to Catalyst. FSM was a blast, even though it was kind of weird not having any FSM staff there to help out. However, John Denny, one of our church pastors, stepped up like the champ that he is and helped us out. All and all it was a good night at FSM.
So, next up on the list? Fly to atlanta. JUST KIDDING. I was catching my flight out of Memphis, TN, so my next thing to do was to go to Memphis that night. I was late leaving and pulled across the Mississippi River at about 1:00 AM. yea. crazy. Also, I was driving my boss’s minivan, so that when his family came in Saturday, they could take that vehicle home, and I wouldn’t have to use up my gas money.
So it’s 1:15 by the time I get near the airport, and I have a 6:00 flight. I’m not about to go spend $80 on a hotel room, no sir. So I pull in to the long term parking lot, and tell the guy running the shuttle to and from the airport, “Hey man, I’ve got a 6 AM flight, so I’m probably going to take a nap in my car, so no worries as far as getting me to the airport yet, thanks though!” and crack the windows, lay down the seats in the van and put in the iPod. All night, I have these horrifying dreams of guys breaking into vehicles and stealing them. The last dream I had, the guy was breaking into the vehicle next to mine, and I remember trying to hide under one of the chairs, but he sees me and we make eye contact. He starts to walk toward the van laughing and says, “It’s time,” and pours what I can only imagine was gasoline on the car, and I wake up. Terrified, I put some Summer Ames on the iPod and go back to sleep.
Next thing I know, I’m awakened by a banging sound and the scraggly voice of a man saying, “It’s time! It’s time!” Before I go on, you know that feeling when you wake up somewhere that’s not your bed? That feeling of “Oh. Crap. Where am I?” You’re body’s not quite sure what’s going on? Well I had that feeling, but add to it, “Why am I in a car? Why am I wearing all my clothes? Why is this guy yelling at me through the windshield? Wait, WHY IS THIS GUY YELLING AT ME THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD!?” And I had a mini-freakout. Lucky for me, he woke me up, because my alarm hadn’t gone of, and it was 5 AM. So after living through my nightmare, I hopped in the shuttle and got on my flight, no problem.
Problem. There was never a really “established” game plan of how I’d get from the airport to Gwinnett Arena, where Catalyst was being held. There were ideas, like a taxi, someone picking me up, taking a MARTA as far as it would go and a taxi, all these different things. The last decided gameplan was that I would see what cab fare would be, and we’d play it by ear. So I’m headed to the ground transportation area, and realize that my breathe tastes like raw butt. Luckily, airports are full of places that sell $4 packs of gum.
As I go in to find the gum, I see a bald headed man that’s vaguely familiar. He turns and I see his profile. “Holy cow. That’s Seth Godin. Holy. Cow.” Right before me was arguably THE top authority worldwide on leadership. At this point, I’m literally exhausted and have no judgment or filter, so I just go for it. “Sir…um…are you? Are you Seth Godin?” I asked, praying I pronounced his last name right. Nailed it. It was him. “That’s incredible. It’s an honor to meet you. I’m actually just flying in for Catalyst, so I’m heading there now. I can’t wait to hear what you have to say!” I’m still groggy, but I felt good about making coherent sentences in front of one of my heroes.
Then, it happened. We became bro’s.
“Do you have a ride?” Do I have a ride?!? I could have had a helicopter waiting on me and my answer would have been the same, “No sir, I’m just kind of winging it here.” Totally true. “Well, hop in with me!”
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?
“Forgive me if I’m quiet in the car, I need to make sure to collect my thoughts and stuff for tonight.”
No worries. I just want to be near you.
So after he went over his notes and called a relative of his, we talked. Just chatted. I asked questions and he gave open answers. It. Was. AWESOME.
So yea, basically, he’s probably going to start living on the 4th floor now. We’re pretty tight these days.
So that’s 1 of my heroes down. I get to our seats, and turns out, our seats are right behind where the speakers sit. NUTS. I see Jeremy Cowart, easily my biggest photography hero. I couldn’t help it. I was “that awkward guy” that walked up and said hi, just to say hi. I didn’t know what else to say. But I did it. Eventually, I saw my old pastor, Craig, Louie Giglio and for a second thought I saw Jasmine Starr, all of which were three rows ahead of me.
I’ll leave it at that though, because if I actually wrote about the conference, it’d hurt my fingers. I’d say check it out yourself, there’s even podcasts and stuff, I’m told. God is doing some great things through churches and leaders all over our country.
Now, I’m going to bed.
And for you photography junkies, it wasn’t Jasmine, it was her sister, Bianca, who’s in ministry herself. I’m just happy it wasn’t my delirium setting in.
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