Nehemiah had a big dream.
I’m reading about it in Jon Swanson’s new book, A GREAT WORK. I’ll talk more about Jon’s book next week—today I’m thinking about one particular aspect of doing a great work.
Following a dream, doing a great work—those require courage.
God may ask you to raise a family or rescue trafficked children. Your dream may involve ending homelessness in your community or ending loneliness for one elderly neighbor. Whatever your great work, you can be sure you’ll encounter fear.
Lately, it seems I’ve seen an epidemic of dreamers stalled by a particular fear, one I call FOOP—Fear Of Offending People.
There’s nearly always someone who’ll disapprove of your big dream. Maybe they’re threatened. Perhaps your idea infringes on some perceived sacred territory, or you seem to be ignoring the formal or informal rules. And there will always be folks uncomfortable with those who color outside the lines.
I don’t think we ought to deliberately look for fights. There’s no need to intentionally hurt or offend others.
But as Jon asks us to consider Nehemiah’s great work, he asks, “What matters so much that you have to start working on it, no matter what?” He says a great work touches the heart so deeply “that you can’t not do it.”
Nehemiah had to rebuild the wall. When Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem tried to distract him, he sent this message:
“I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”
What’s the thing you have to do, no matter what? What’s the thing you can’t not do?
Whatever it is, don’t let FOOP get in the way.
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