Thursday, May 17, 2012

The Jim Clause

I have a friend named Jim.  He is on the volunteer landscaping team at my church and because of his humility and servant's heart, I admire him greatly.  Jim is one of three brothers and over the past five years, the other two brothers have passed away.  I sang at both of their funerals.  I have also given Jim my word that no matter where I am, when he passes away I will also sing at his funeral.  In fact, we 'upped the ante' just this last week when Jim asked me if I would not only sing at his funeral, but also to officiate his funeral.
I'm not sure how long it's gonna be before I am required to deliver my end of the deal with Jim.  I hope it's a really long time from now and if it is, I can't guarantee that I'll be living in the same city or state as Jim.  But, no matter where I am or who I am working for, I have decided to insert a "Jim Clause" on the front of any contract or obligation outside of that to God or my wife or my sons and daughter.
The "Jim Clause" reads something like this..
"no matter where I am, or who I am working for, or what my contractual obligations are, if Jim dies, then I will drop everything I am doing and travel as far as I need to in order to fulfill my promise to my friend Jim"
I think I may have the "Jim Clause" literally written into whatever  contract that I may sign in the near future because it reminds me that people and our promises to them, especially in the most important seasons of life, will always be more important than any other obligation that we may commit ourselves to.

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