Just Because It’s Different and Other Cute Sayings

Years of coaching, from basketball to missions, has led me to more than a few clichés and cute phrases. Some are straight-forward:

”You have to giving 110%.”

“Actions speak louder than words.”

Or my personal favorite:

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

These happy thoughts are far from the whole story. There is no extra 10%. Sometimes words are loud enough (see the current election cycle). And surviving is not really the highest bar if maimed and scarred is part of the package. All those clichés have some truth to them, but they don’t begin to tell the story.

As we have stepped out on this journey I am reminded of something we told every group prepping for short -term trips. It was appropriate then and just as appropriate now.

”Just because it is different doesn’t mean it is bad.”

For years we would joke of introducing a weed-eater to Turkey and revolutionizing that country. My Midwest, manicured-lawn mentality struggled with their clear misstep in the area of weed management. And yet, the Lord used those weeds to constantly (no kidding) remind me how “Different does not mean bad”. Just because they eat brain or drink mushy goat milk does not (necessarily equate) to bad.

Confession: the mushy goat milk may have been bad, but the brain was better than one might guess.

Sunday, we went to church someplace other than Heritage (not on vacation or overseas, but for real) for the first time in over two decades. There were things that were… different… And yet, the Body of Christ is amazing.

As we are seeing other ways churches do things that same billboard lit up: “Different does not mean bad.”

We have been stepping into new rhythms, new meetings, new ways of doing things, even new paper thickness, new ways of paying the bills and getting the job done, new targets and new victories. The big goal is the same: We are taking the Good News to people who may have never heard, listened, or been open. If we are going to be light in darkness it requires becoming comfortable with different.

This past Sunday, we were in a church much louder, more diverse, and significantly more inked, but it was a blessing. Even more, the Lord was so good to give the girls a (relatively) smooth transition. Different for sure. But good.

So to the lady in the row behind and across the aisle, of course believe the cliché, “sing like no one can hear you”, but maybe still sing like you can hear you.