Encouragement to those who bring life and light - the opportunity brokers, dispensers, enablers, equippers
"Look, I'm sending you out as sheep among wolves, so be wary and wise as serpents but as harmless as doves, innocent and without pretense. Be wary of men who will betray you, but know this will yield opportunity, so do not be anxious, for your response will be given to you by the Holy Spirit."
-- Matthew 10:16-20
"The unique characteristics of those bearing the mantle of radical cultural change begin with an authority that challenges the status quo. They operate totally outside the box. They prevail through authenticity, integrity, and love. They walk boldly, but quietly, with no selfish intent. They exhibit an awareness and a maturity that judges righteously, with a father's heart. When change yields, they become the opportunity brokers. Joseph was such an opportunity broker. Opportunity brokers are equippers and community-builders. They are enablers of goodness, dispensers of light.
In other words, opportunity enablers operate uniquely to build genuine community; to facilitate, to mobilize, and to equip others to assist in that process. Enablers bear the mark of the highest calling among leaders. They don't build worldly institutions that serve to perpetuate their own existence and greatness. They are a stand for everyone, not themselves. Their organizations are outward-driven or integrated into the broader community. They flow with a modus operandi that is consistently serving to extend more opportunity to others - often to lovingly confront others with their opportunities.
Long ago, there was a pivotal tribe of Israel known as Issachar, who understood the times and knew what to do. They were a comparatively small tribe among the twelve, yet extremely potent in their function. They stood at the point of change, knowing what to do. Within the same context, Jesus admonished us to understand the times and seasons, and to be prepared and ready to respond. The status quo is the enemy of opportunity, but even when it wins many battles, it has already lost the war, for change is inevitable. Flashpoints of fire and pain will naturally bring change. Change rightly responded to yields unlimited opportunities to advance the Kingdom of God.
When darkness emerges, faith arises. When the fire falls, opportunities yield. When destiny calls, the enablers arise."
-- Morris Ruddick
I "feel" this writing today, down to my marrow. I am stunned by the darkness looming (not "that" it's happening, but by its magnitude and reach, like that of an approaching Level 5 hurricane), and I am very, very excited. It has stoked my faith in the most powerful way. That is due, I believe, to thorough preparation by my Boss and Guide through all of this, through these last dozen or so years of agonizing, back-breaking, and yet totally exhilarating training in "self-surrender." I feel totally equipped to both deeply and genuinely comfort, as well as to boldly confront others with their unlimited opportunities for caring and making a difference, to dig deep within myself for access to Spirit for right response in every situation. This is a perfect storm, as well as a perfect opportunity. Freedom to live and love in a new way - no longer ruled by avarice, banality, competitiveness, desperation, envy, fear, garishness, hopelessness, indignity, jingoism, kickbacks, lust, machismo, narcissism, opulence, posturing, quackery, rank, self-centeredness, thanklessness, underhandedness, vanity, war-mongering, xenophobia, zombie-ism - is upon us. The time to wake up and seize the day, and seize true life, is upon us. Our moment is at hand, and it is very exciting. I am here with many others to first endure, then to broker, dispense, enable, and equip all people to hold their own light. Hallelujah!
Labels: holding the light
