The other day I finished a book about the most unlikely woman, named Britt-Marie, who moved into a small town and despite her irascible, fastidious and often OCD nature about cutlery drawers and liberal use of baking soda for cleaning and her tendency to blurt out critical (but she thinks common sense and helpful) statements, she somehow manages to become a significant and endearing person to the young people in the small town who need a soccer coach. Throughout the story, it is clear that she is being stretched beyond her comfort zone and into areas of life that she has never imagined she would walk. She realizes that she is making an impact and forging unexpected friendships.
There is power, “even in the gentlest of spirits, to make the world a better place.”
That’s what it takes though — a willingness to get out of your comfort zone, and do something that no one else is willing to step up and do. It is scary; it causes anxiety; it upsets your routine. Many will tell you that it is an impossible task. Many will scoff at you for trying. Some will try to discourage you. But that’s what perseverance is — when you know deep down in your gut — that you are doing something that matters. This can sometimes transcend common sense or rational thinking. For someone like Britt-Marie, who was steeped in rational-common-sense-safe-thinking, everything she was doing was completely opposite to what she knew. But something inside of her was driving her to do something radically different that had a great impact way beyond her initial discomfort. She changed because of this. Other lives were changed and a town came together and found a reason to hope again.
It is the beginning of a new year. Stepping out in something new; following your heart in an area that God has been showing you; or just pushing forward in an area in which you have been faithful for a long time is all a part of the process of perseverance. A story Bob always tells is about a lady he worked with named Michelle who often told him that most people see a closed door. They don’t see the way around it. Thus they never really go past the door they just stay there. They don’t see the crack beneath it or the hinge pins to pull it off or the key hanging way over there to the right that will open the lock. I want to be one who sees beyond the door; who’s willing to open my mind beyond the obvious and persevere to do that which surely “can’t be done.” There’s an old poem that goes through my mind all the time that basically says, no matter what anyone says, despite those who doubt you and who don’t think you will make it, grab your shovel and dig in. Pick up the hammer and start swinging. Lace up your Nikes and start running. Open your mouth and start singing. If the Lord has given you a dream and shown you a path to walk, Trust Him (Proverbs 3:5-6). He promises that He will be with you on the way, and through His strength in you, you can do all things (Philippians 4:13)!
Somebody said that it couldn’t be done
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it!
Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it;”
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure,
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.
It Couldn’t be Done, by Edgar Albert Guest