Crossing that Bridge

Today I had a difficult conversation with someone who was fixing a big problem for me. She gave her proposed solution and I asked her "And if that doesn't work, will we have to do this second thing?" and she said... (are you ready for this?)

WE'LL CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE COME TO IT.

I don't know what that actually MEANS, so I continued... "And if that second thing doesn't work, will this third idea be our only choice?" and she said (are you sitting down?)

I WOULDN'T REALLY WORRY ABOUT THAT UNTIL WE GET THERE.

What in the what what? Moving ahead without making sure you have at least 3 contingency plans? Huh? Do people really DO that?

That brings me to the idea that I've been churning on for a few weeks- a concept mentioned in a study about leadership and ministry.  The idea was that a good leader, especially one who wants to give their best for Christ has to be willing to fail- or at least not be afraid to risk failure.

And though I completely get the reasons one can't let fear dictate what we do or do not do (especially for God), I absolutely abhor the idea of failure.

I mean, I tell my kids that though I don't necessarily expect report cards full of As, and I understand if they find a subject a struggle and get even a C, I absolutely will never accept an F.  To me, an F means you didn't try. Teachers will nearly never fail a student who makes an effort, so if one of my children comes home with a failing grade they are in BIG. TROUBLE. MISTER.

So, when someone tells me my ministry would be more successful if I worried less about failing and more about doing God's will, I can GET the idea intellectually, but my heart just has a hard time catching up. My philosophy has already been if you could possibly fail, you should not do the thing until you have explored every item that could go wrong and come up with a contingency for it.  Why would you do something (especially for God) if you could potentially waste God's time, money, resources, or the efforts of His people? Why would you risk the reputation of your ministry, your Church, or even Christianity if you could avoid getting an F? Why would you risk being in BIG.TROUBLE.?!?

But- and this is what I am just trying to see and believe now- if we sew everything up tightly, doing only what we can be sure will succeed, executing only sure plans, and going only where we feel safe and comfortable, where is faith? How can God get the credit if He hasn't been trusted for even part of the plan? If nobody risks, nobody steps out in faith, nobody takes a chance, how will the really big stuff happen? I'm not talking about being foolish or reckless, but instead, wisely engaging in projects or activities or relationships where you can't see how it could possibly work?

When I look at my life pattern I see a girl who only takes one step when she knows what the next ten will be. Yes, I never build a house without first considering the cost, but how good is that when all my efforts are being made to make sure the 'cost' is minimum and the risk is nonexistent?

This week, I'll be praying about taking 'calculated risks'- keeping my eyes open for times when God would like me to step out in faith, even when it defies logic. I'll look for wise opportunities to cross bridges as I come to them, instead of worrying about plans B, C and D. I don't think I'll ever be the kind of person who forges ahead without thinking, but I'd like to become someone who is willing to try something even if I don't know exactly how I can pull it off. I want to be willing to trust in the God I've given my life to.

How about you? Do you tend to plan or to risk? Are you okay to fail? Do tell... 

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

John 14:1