I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya AngelouAs I read this quote, my first question is, "Is there any Biblical truth to this?" I mean, we all know that people like to be made to feel good (and hate to feel bad), but what does the Bible say? Is it right to make people feel good (or wrong to make them feel bad)? Understand, some people here are going to read this blog and say, "That's the problem with you Christians. You always question the most obvious truths." I get it, to an outsider my question sounds ridiculous.
Look, in the last few years of ministry, I keep coming back to this question about who I am in the kingdom. Am I a preacher or am I a teacher? Am I a Paul or am I Barnabas? Is it better in Christ to be a voice calling out "Repent!" or to be a gentle whisper encouraging "You can make it." What does God want me to be?
From my perspective, Christianity has always been a rule of absolutes. Everywhere I went was a new absolute about ministry. As a young Bible student- "You need to always be serving people." As an apprentice missionary- "Always be evangelizing." At preaching school- "Always contend for the faith." At Christian college- "Always study broadly and question what you've been taught." As a missionary- "Always be busy for God." As a grad student- "Always dig deeper." As a minister- "Always invest in people." At some point we ask ourselves, "So what exactly am I to always be again? Don't some of these absolutes contradict? When should I be bold and when should I be gentle? When should I be a wall and when an open door?"
Maya Angelou's words resonate in my heart. Maybe it's because I'm supposed to not listen to her as a source of wisdom. Maybe it's because I hear a little of Qoheleth in her voice... "Meaningless.... meaningless...." Maybe it's because what she says sounds so right, but contradicts so many absolutes I have learned over the years. Regardless, I want to say that I do like this quote. I think it does sound Christian and I agree with it totally. Yep, I'm gonna use this quote and make it my motto for a while- "Always....." Let me try that again, "Consider how you make people feel, because people will forget what you said and what you did."
2 comments:
Great post bro! Love the quote and it is so true. I think sometimes we hang so much on the absolutes and forget about Jesus.
I really enjoyed doing Tulsa with you. Things were so fast, I never got to really tell you how much I enjoyed it. Praying daily for your family and the wk there.
Thanks for the good word Trent. I enjoyed speaking with you as well. Neat opportunity man!
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