Inspired people inspire people
Several years ago, my wife and I journeyed to Europe to visit three ministries supported by our church. One of our visits was to my old friend Larry Kineman. Larry and Debbie planted new churches in Worcester, England, for many years. He has enjoyed a long and fruitful career in the city where they make Worcestershire sauce.
I grew up with Larry attending the same church in Anderson, Indiana. His father, Lanis Kineman, was the pastor of the church. You always know a person who has known me since my youth because they still call me Donnie. Larry served as the youth minister at Bethany Christian Church, and I completed an internship under his tutelage. We enjoyed a delightful summer, and I learned much about what it took to be a good pastor.
One evening a conversation started in his living room, and my friend presented me with a new idea. Larry was about to take a sabbatical, and he had been hiking long distances in preparation. He said he was going to walk the Camino Way. "Camino Way," I thought; “I've never heard of it.” So, I asked, “What's 'that?" "Donnie, you've never heard of the Camino Way?" "Nope."
At this point, the future “Peregrino,” as pilgrims along this route are called, began to describe the famous Pilgrimage route that winds 500 miles across Spain to the world-famous Santiago de Compostela Cathedral where it is believed the remains of James, the Apostle of Jesus, lie interred. The main route starts in France and enters Spain over the Pyrenees mountains. It makes its way across three mountain ranges and dozens of cities, towns, and villages. It is one of the three great Christian pilgrimage routes globally, the other destinations being Rome and Jerusalem. If you like to hike and love history, this is the journey for you. You’ll spend many hours walking Roman roads and strolling through ancient villages as well as the wine country and thousands of acres of olive groves. People from 190 countries make the journey each year. During the Middle Ages, the famed Knights Templar protected Peregrinos.
Several years ago, Martin Sheen and Emilio Esteves made a movie about the true story of a young man who died on the hike and how his father came from the U.S. and made the journey to honor his son. It's called "The Way." The movie was shot on location at various places along the route and is worth your time to watch.
As Larry spoke, something began to well up in me. A seed was planted, and an adventure was revealed. He showed me pictures from the passage and described some fantastic sights. I was thinking, “What an incredible thing to do!”
Larry made the pilgrimage, and we kept in touch throughout his journey and afterward.
Meanwhile, a couple of years later, I was to take my first Sabbatical, which would last three months. Guess what I did? Yep, I enlisted my nephew to travel with me, and we walked the Camino Way. It was the most challenging feat I've ever accomplished. We roamed twelve to twenty-one miles each day over hills, mountains, Roman bridges, and through deep forests.
I started an unusual collection on this trip. It was a buildup of a blister on top of blister on top of another blister. Mile after excruciating mile, we trudged on despite our painful feet. I gladly left that collection in Spain! Many hikers must delay their travels due to blisters. The Camino adventure was the most challenging, remarkable exploit I've ever accomplished.
Walking the Camino Way was one of the most profound events of my life, and it all came about from a simple conversation in an old friend's home in England. Larry's excitement, words, and consequential actions inspired me to follow in his footsteps.
But the inspiration accomplished even more. I decided that this Sabbatical could be even more meaningful if I raised money for a great cause. I invited family, friends, and church members to support me, mile by mile financially, and we would plant a new church and Compassion Children's Center in a poor neighborhood in Bolivia.
Many supporters approached me in the preceding weeks singing – "I would walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more . . ." Ultimately, we raised $40,000, which was half the cost, and the church paid for the rest. There now exists a church and Compassion children’s center in Santa Cruz. The church family monthly supports about 230 poor children to receive education, healthy meals, medical care, and, most importantly, Jesus. The church has grown through the years and helped plant other churches.
All these events resulted from a simple conversation in my friend’s living room in Worcester, England. Larry’s inspiration inspired me, and I encouraged others. Inspired people, inspire people.
We often think that inspiration to do unusual feats erupts from some life-changing event, a moving speech, or something impressive. Indeed, this sometimes happens, but often, we find the catalyst for achievement is a simple conversation, story, or observation.
I am reminded of the prophet Elijah. He had just defeated hundreds of pagan prophets in a showdown, throwdown, but now he was up in the mountains tired and whining. God decided to have a conversation with the old warrior prophet. Here’s how it all came down.
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
(1 Kings 19:10-13 NIV)
God’s voice was not heard through might and power; it was a “still small voice.” Can you hear the whisper? “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Some of your most inspiring moments from both God and man will sprout up from a seed planted in a quiet, simple conversation. Sometimes you will be the one on the receiving end of this blessing, and sometimes you will be the one planting the seed. Inspired people inspire people! Listen carefully and you will discover inspiration that will take you far. And along the way, inspire others everyday.
Live Inspired!
Be the hero of your own story!
Don Mark
P.S. If you would like to hear me speak about inspiration, check out the sermon I presented last weekend at Christ’s Church of the Valley in the Philly area. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLhSrqkziwxXC0oOaG6f2w/featured
