I vividly remember the debate as if it was yesterday. A young manager did not believe in a change that I was promoting. Describing his level of unbelief, required words like passionately convicted, concerned about our future, and 100% sure that the world as he knew it would end if the change was implemented.
You could feel his conviction. His fear was tangibly visible. I was certain that his review was not a whimsical. He had studied the materials in advance. He considered the ideas. He asked questions, trying to fully understand. As an hour stretched into four plus, I found myself admiring the intensity, focus, and commitment he had to our business. Even when we ran out of time, I wanted to keep going.
“I will implement the change if you tell me to.”
“No, that is not why I hired you as a manager. I value your perspective.”
“What do we do then?”
“We wait. I will be back in a few weeks. I will reserve a day. This is too important to let go of without trying to work it through.”
“Are you sure? While I am confident, the most important thing is that I want to be a team player.”
“You are. It is fine. Until we see each other next, no change.”
Three weeks later, I returned, wondering how I was going to work through the fear.
“What time would you like to meet?”
“Oh, I was thinking that I should write you a note. We do not need to meet.”
“Why?”
“I tried the idea. It is a brilliant solution to many of my headaches.”
David was unsure if God was going to come through. He words are as much a plea as a statement of hope. “Don’t leave the victims to rot in the street; make them a choir that sings your praises.” (Psalm 74.21)
I listened to one with no reason to praise God, sing of compassion, care, and hope. He had no reason; he had experience. Letting God touch us is the first step in experiencing Divinity.
