Today is a day like no other. It’s a turnaround day — a one-of-a-kind day, a picture day, a stop-the-presses day, a balloon day, a strike-up-the-band day. It’s a make-her-feel-like-a-million-bucks day. It’s Marti Fischer’s birthday, for heaven’s sake!
Born on September 27 (I will not disclose the year lest it dispel the myth that she is eternally 39), God spent some extra time on this one.
Here’s what’s a big deal with Marti: justice, fairness, equality, worth of the individual, value of life, putting everything you have into what you do, returning respect to women, stopping the reinforcing of negative male images, “It’s not the big things you say; it’s the little things you do,” and one more: “Doing the right things for the right reasons.”
There is no hyperbole with Marti — everything is bigger than life. Everything is important. Everyone counts. Everything is 100%. Marti has no rheostat dial — no cruise control; the switch is either on or off.
When Marti was assigned Matthew 28:19-20 as her life verse (“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”), that means she is responsible for everyone in the world. That’s right. Her job is not done until everyone is a disciple. I am not overstating this. This is the truth. We have some work to do. No wonder she thinks I’m dragging my feet.
I don’t know of anyone who is more focused. I think she’s over-compensated for her A.D.D. She’ll sit on the floor for hours working on her computer (she doesn’t believe in chairs) and never move. But have any one of her children or her granddaughter walk in the room and everything stops. All attention is on them.
There are no greater opposites in the universe than Marti and me. We should never be together. We failed all of the personality tests. When we went for pre-marriage counseling they had to throw the tests away. We were both off the charts. We shouldn’t even be in the same room. I am laid back, observant, let life come to me. She is edge-of-her-seat, supercharged, make things happen. I frustrate her no end. She makes me dizzy. If we live to a ripe old age together, it will be because our spiritual natures are one. This is where we are joined at the hip. Everything else is volatile, but the spiritual is rock solid.
Here’s what makes her mad: when you don’t live up to your potential, when you settle for less, when you don’t give someone respect, when you don’t do what she tells you to do (she’s the CEO and I’m her worst employee), when you sell anyone or anything short.
I’ve watched her with her discipleship group a few times. One session I had them to myself. These women are alive, growing in confidence and boldness, developing their gifts and totally fun. (Last session they each did their own original rap version of 2 Corinthians. I kid you not. They rapped 2 Corinthians. It was their assignment.)
And did I mention how beautiful she is?
So help me celebrate this day. Marti’s for real. She’s the CEO of this ministry corporation and she is setting a bold course for all of us, and above all, she loves each and every one of you. Happy Birthday!
Leave a Reply