I love to impress people. I mean, who doesn’t? For example, just last night at our friends’ house the topic of Giants baseball and my long time fanhood jumped into our conversation. I was asked how painful it has been to be a Giants fan for so long
and I quickly responded by retelling the gut-wrenching story of the Mets’ Benny Agbayani hitting a 13th inning game winning homer against us in the 2000 playoffs. My friends were impressed by such specific Giants’ knowledge (or maybe they just thought I was pathetic) and I was happy to oblige, especially now that those memories aren’t so painful having won a World Series.
A trusted counselor of mine once told me, “Jon, you probably write/teach about the importance of authenticity, but you need to do a better job modeling that in your own life.” Ouch…
On my best day, I write what God has put on my heart and I share it with conviction. On my worst day, I write while asking the question, “What do people want to hear and how can I impress them?” I don’t have the time, desire or calling to simply write what people want to hear. Plus, that is just bad writing and doesn’t make for a compelling story.
Over the past three years, I have sensed an overwhelming conviction to tell the stories that often get dismissed, over looked or that are culturally taboo within our Western narrative. Whether stories from the alley behind my apartment or stories from our travels in a war torn Middle East, I commit to tell them with honesty, conviction and creativity (more on this in my next post).
For now, help me live out the advice of my counselor by engaging in critical conversation and story that sheds light on God’s Kingdom, even if it rustles our feathers and makes us a bit uncomfortable. Because if I’m authentic in telling these stories, we will be uncomfortable…and hopefully inspired towards action.