As I said last week, because we live in a platitude accepting drive-by-conversating world, you and I will have to say something different, and be willing to do something different just to be the one person in the 'row' of lined up public opinion who dares to take one step forward.
Stepping away from the crowd of commonly held opinion is awkward and away from the order of things.
I do like order though, and the positive outcomes of well thought out and executed chain of command. I like the progress and power of agreement and the fruitfulness of unity. I love the 'getting on the same page' moments shared with people in my life. The Bible speaks about agreement and unity repeatedly in an effort that we may understand the depth of greatness acquired when we are together - truly together.
There are times though, when the majority of opinion is not right. There are times when you will be the one who breaks rank to find yourself alone on a topic. Don't be afraid. Remember there's a difference between lonely and being alone. Taking a stand may be a lonely place, but you're never alone. There are those all around you who wait for leadership - they wait for you.
One of the great aspects of Cherry Street Mission Ministries, and certainly one of the many reasons I love serving here, is that we live in a platitude free environment. Here, the phrases of 'kind of'' and 'sort of' have no meaning because they are not resistant to the acidic nature of serving in the river of the human condition.
Lives weighing in the balance of heaven and hell don't respond well to direction that is unclear nor love that has no sharp contrast against the backdrop of trouble.
That's the problem with pastel colors - you're never really sure what the color really is. So we're forced to describe the color as pastel [pale] yellow or pastel blue.
It's also the problem with pastel thinking or pastel leadership - you're never quite sure what the decision really is. 'Not really sure [pastel] thinking' works well when you're looking at a menu or trying to decide what you really want at the ice cream stand.
But - when people are placed into the equation, that's a whole different matter. People in the equation will require decisiveness. These are decisions that stand in stark contrast to the problems of life and decisions that will most often stand in stark contrast to the opinions of those around you - no pastel here.
Decisions of stark contrast are made at Cherry Street Mission Ministries [and I hope where you serve] every day. Whether a meal, a conversation, a prayer or a moment of kindness - all stand in sharp contrast to the 'pastel colors' of life.
Here's today's challenge: Make a decision that stands in stark contrast to____________ (you fill in the blank).
Dan
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