totally cray-cray: graffiti summer.

“Summer’s here and you’re doing what? AGAIN?” Those were words from a friend who was second-guessing my crazy summer challenge as she remembered my Summer of 7 challenge last year.

It’s summer time and I love the beach, vacations, and sun — I do!

But this summer, I knew I needed to make it count. I didn’t need to waste 97 days to laying in the sun and risking myself to skin cancer. Nope, I knew I needed a challenge.

So the challenge is on!

The cray-cray thinking in my mind lately has led me to lead Graffiti Summer. My crazy thoughts convict me often that while I want to lay in the sun and be comfortable, there is still a hurting and needy world out there.

People are going without love, food, encouragement — and even water in this scorching hot weather.

So, all this crazy talk is to say . . .

I want you to join in this challenge!

Yes, I want you to be messed up with me this summer. Together we can be loco in the head! But the best thing about being crazy and joining the Graffiti Summer is that lives are going to be changed.

So, if haven’t heard about the challenge of Graffiti Summer — you can read all about it here. Check out the bloggers who are joining in to kick us off.

If you have heard about it and you are still here, then YAY that means you are cray-cray too!

Are you reluctant?

Maybe you’ve read Graffiti, the book I co-wrote with a homeless man, and you’re thinking I don’t know any homeless. I wouldn’t even know where to go to serve the homeless. Well, let me tell you — this study is about so much more!

It’s more about YOU stepping out of your comfort zone to serve another than it is about who you serve. [that’s tweetable]

Do you have a neighbor who needs encouragement?

Are there children in your city going without food?

Does the lady sitting at the bus stop in the scorching heat need a drink of water?

Does the family sitting three rows behind you at church need a friend?

Does that man in the motor chair at the grocery store need a helping hand?

Why do I need YOU?

I need accountability.

I need more BFF’s.

I need someone to understand why I’ll be so cranky and crying all summer.

I need friends to laugh with as I’m sure this will be a hoot of a challenge!

I need you to pick me up when I realize just how fearful I am of the unknown.

How do you join in?

It’s easy-peasy!

1. Get your copy of Graffiti – scribbles from different sides of the street.

2. Download your FREE copy of Graffiti Study and Do here. This challenge will parallel the life of Moses. Cool, huh?

3. Ask to join the Graffiti Facebook page.

4. Grab the Graffiti Summer button/logo for your blog.

5. Link up and share your journey as we make this 6-week journey.

But you don’t write or have a blog?

You do not need to be a writer to join in. Feel free to follow the other bloggers, and those that link up for the discussions. Participate as you see fit. These conversations must be had for us to learn.

If you’d like to write your thoughts and tell us about your journey, you can easily link up through Facebook.

Here’s what you do to participate via Facebook: 

Either write a Facebook note or post a status update about Graffiti asking others to join in this summer craziness. After you post it, grab the URL. Click on the title in a note and it will give you the URL. In a post, click on the time stamp underneath your name and it will give you the URL. Then link up that URL — for the picture you will have to choose to download from your computer (I suggest as best) or click on generic.

So a group of messed-up wacky cray-cray bloggers are going to take this journey for the summer. Thank goodness we know lives are going to be encouraged and changed, otherwise we might be too scared and just go back to laying in the sun!

I’ll be laying out my strategy and schedule for this Graffiti challenge tomorrow.

Will YOU join the cray-cray challenge?