It happens to all of us. You’re invited to a friend’s dinner party, or cocktail party. Maybe you are checking out a new small group at church. Or you might have lunch with a new client or play tennis in a new league. Wherever you are, there is always someone that makes an introduction and then it happens – wait for it – wait for it – and there it is. What Do You Do?
If you’ve ever been in a season without work, you have felt the sting of that question. If you’ve ever felt insecure or under-qualified when asked this question, you are not alone. Most of us have felt that sting. But what if you could stick your chest out a bit and answer boldly…this is what I do…I ___________________________.
I have been working on clarifying what I do. The easy answer is that I am the pastor of Sugar Hill Church. But that’s a pretty small part of what I do. I’m a follower of Jesus, I’m a husband. I’m a dad. I’m a granddad. I’m an author. I’m a preacher. I’m a coach. I’m a counselor. I’m a friend. I’m a teacher. I’m an artist. I’m a consultant. I’m a lot of things and so are you.
One job that must be on everybody’s list of roles is this: We are all designed to be students. That’s right, students! I am confident that when we surrender our willingness to learn, we surrender our right to lead. That’s true in our family, church, team, school, office and community.
Show me a person, that by their unwilling attitude has ceased reading, listening, growing, learning, stretching and developing, AND I’LL SHOW YOU A PRIDE-FILLED, SOON TO BE HAS BEEN. I know, I know, that’s a big statement. If our view of this life is so narrow as to not recognize that none of us know everything, then we will meander through a field of mediocrity with no exit strategy for excellence. Even if you knew one half of all known knowledge, there would still be galaxies full of knowledge that you don’t know.
Are you a student? Are you willing to look hard and assess your life of development and discipleship honestly? If not, then you can remain part of the world that is literally dying from terminal certainty. OR! You could determine the roles God has allowed you to have, do the hard work of determining the next level of development that you need to take and do it. Maybe it’s something to research. It might be how to be a better money manager or something to attempt that seemed way out of your normal routine..It might be finding your personal convictions or learning how to read your Bible.
My granddad (Papa) gave me my first really nice Bible and I wouldn’t take anything for it, I still have that little Bible, and I see it every day. In Papa’s chicken scratching inside the front cover are these words. “Chuckie, if you will live by this verse, you’ll find great joy in your life. 2 Timothy 2:15 Love, Papa.”
What are you learning? What are you becoming? What do you do?
As for me, I am all those things I listed above, but to my core, I am a committed student, with a passion to experience everything God has in store for me. If you’d like a sample of any easy template that can help you reach and exceed your potential, send me an email and just put in the Re line, PLAN. I’ll send it back to you. If you need a little coaching to help you work through it, I’m happy to do that as well.
Go do your thing! But make sure your thing includes learning and growing and maturing.
The Divine has some big plans for you. Do your part and prepare! Then walk into the party with the confidence that You are a student. I am on a quest to be all that God wants me to be and I’m not stopping until He calls me away from this life and into the life that He has created for me!
Go In Peace!
