Today is my last day in Nairobi; I depart tonight on the direct flight to New York, a first for me (a direct flight, that is). This has been a wonderful visit for me, and I look forward to returning in October at the latest.
This week will be the last installment in our "Put Me In, Coach" series which we began last year. After this, I will edit all the Memos I have written along with a few from the archives on this topic and publish them as a book under the same name. My premise has been that we need to involve ourselves more aggressively in doing the work God has for us to do. We have been much too passive and cautious to say' Here I am, Lord, use me, involve me," even volunteering if we don't see a door open. Let's now look at the role that others can play in helping us put ourselves in the game.
A FOOL
This week, I was editing an entry from my daily Proverbs devotional that focused on this verse: "He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he walks in wisdom is kept safe" (28:26). If you are like me, you have read that verse to be negative in that if we trust in ourselves, we will go astray or get into trouble because what is in us is wrong because we can be so deceived. Is there another way to interpret that verse? There is and here is what I wrote this week:
It is easy to underestimate your potential and the power of your ideas. That's why you need other people speaking into your life if you are to walk in wisdom. Who are your coaches and mentors? Who challenges and broadens your perspective on life and purpose? Who is on your personal "board of directors"? As an example of the kind of input and encouragement you need from others, read about the encounter that Jonathan and David had in 1 Samuel 23:16-18
And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
Jonathan did not visit David to rebuke him or tell him he was doing something wrong. He came to remind David of the promise of God and to encourage him not to give up. Jonathan affirmed the call and David's role in serving the nation even though under the threat of death, and helped keep David on the right path. Yes, we may need people to correct us when we are wrong, but we more often need them to encourage us to accept our own greatness and brilliance in the area of our gifts and purpose. You are a fool if you don't listen to people who tell you what you are doing right and encourage you to do more of it.
AN ASSESSMENT
About 13 years ago, I had what's called a 360-degree evaluation done on me. I chose 30 people who completed an online survey that evaluated me and my leadership and character in 29 different areas. It was a long and complicated assessment, which I also completed, answering the same questions as the 30 participants about myself. When I got the results, it scored me in areas like collaboration, community care, communication, personal growth, criticism, cooperation, among others.
The scores came back on a complicated circle graph that had dark gray areas in each category with a red line somewhere in that category as well. The red line was where I saw myself and the gray area was where others saw me to be. Without exception, my red line fell below the gray areas of others in every positive category, but was above the gray areas in the negative characteristics. I had overestimated my weaknesses and underestimated my strengths.
I was stunned by the results, but I heard the Lord. He was telling me to stop playing small, to stop being "Christian" by being humble. My humility was actually false and was denying what the Lord had done in my life and who He had made me to be. I determined after I examined the results that I was not going to shrink back, not be "Christian" and act like everything depended on God and I had no role in His plan for my life. From that point, I decided to publish and broadcast everything I knew and seize every opportunity to make myself available to help as many people as possible.
As I walked out of church today, a place I had not been in many years, I was greeted by three women (and it is a church of thousands) who told me how I had changed their lives when I met with them in 2005-2006. They gave me their stories, wanted my card, and promised to re-connect with me. I was surprised because I thought my impact was forgotten there due to my prolonged absence. It had not, and I am not more determined than ever to renew my efforts to play big and live by the "Put Me In, Coach" philosophy.
I invite you to join me because my guess is you are just like I was and to some degree still am: underestimating my capacity for God's work and purpose. Don't play small and don't hide in the crowd, insisting that if God wants you, He will have to find you (and you won't make it easy for Him to do). Present yourself to the Lord in the fullness of who you are and make a difference while you still have time. Find other people, coaches, mentors, friends, or whoever they are who will help live up to your potential and not live down to your fears. Don't be a fool and only trust yourself where your strengths are concerned. Listen to what God has been trying to tell you through others and don't stubbornly cling to your negative view on who you are and what you can. If you do that, the best is yet to come for you. If not, then get used to the view from the bench, for that is where you will sit as you watch others play the game of purpose. Have a blessed week!
Comments