As you know, Jon is beginning a new chapter of involvement in others’ lives by no longer serving as a hospital chaplain. He now has the freedom to be more flexible in other ways to encourage life and growth.

This is Paul Merrill writing. (I write here every first Friday.)

Jon and I have known each other for about twenty years. When blogging started taking off, I lived in Nairobi, Kenya and started a blog to share my life there with the rest of the world. Jon found my blog, and I found his blog. The connection may have been facilitated by our old friend, Chris Brogan.

We’ve connected in real life a few times over the intervening years.

One visit reveaed what wonderful people Jon and Nancy are.

I flew to Indianapolis for a conference. Without really thinking, I asked Jon and Nancy if they could meet me for dinner.

I forgot that they live in Fort Wayne and not Indianapolis.

It’s a two-hour drive each way.

They met me without mentioning the drive. Somehow I figured out that they had sacrificed four hours of their day to drive through farmlands so we could share a meal.

Wow.

That sacrifice is a picture of both of their hearts to encourage others.

Jon and Nancy, may God bless your next chapter together. Thank you for encouraging me.