Our team at Kingdom Scene took some time this week to reflect on the past year. There was a lot to celebrate. Progress. Impact. And even miracles. We were left amazed and thankful.
I found myself thinking about the journey that has led to the creation of Lightgliders. Though the vision for it had been percolating in my mind for some time, there was a clear moment where its pursuit became inevitable.
It was Christmas 2008.
I had recently completed my graduate studies. I was now unemployed and wrestling with a decision. Do I take a job or pursue a dream?
For ten years, I had been dreaming of ways to impact kids with the gospel in a culturally relevant and global manner. I had brainstormed ideas throughout my time as a youth pastor, as a management consultant, and as a graduate student. I had finally settled on the idea of leveraging digital games to encourage effective children’s discipleship. And I could not get this idea out of my head.
But I had to count the cost. I would need to start a company (never really done that before), to learn the digital games industry (of which I knew nothing about), to design the game (had barely played games before let alone designed one), to partner with a team of experts (where are these people?), and to somehow finance it all (ahhhh!!!). I would get overwhelmed just thinking about it. It seemed way too risky and a bit crazy. So I began to look for a job, though half-heartedly.
Christmas day came and I was able to spend it with my family. It was my father’s turn to give out presents. He handed my mother, my sister, and my brother-in-law a wrapped gift. But to me he gave just an envelope. I opened it to find a generic Christmas card. I assumed that a check or gift certificate would fall out. But nothing did. Instead I found these words.
PURSUE THIS DREAM
~DAD
This was the blessing of a father and I needed it. I knew right then and there what I was to do. My journey began that day and I haven’t looked back since.
The Scriptures tell us that when Jacob took time to bless his 12 sons he blessed “each with the blessing suitable to him.” (Genesis 50:28b) It seems to me that a father is to discern what his children were created for and to propel them towards it.
We need encouragement. We need counsel. We need discipline. I am thankful for all these things and still require them today. But we also need the father’s blessing. For it has the power to propel us into realms of purpose that we did not know were possible.
~Zach