My children are trying to build a zip-line in the house.
They just asked me to tell them how to do it and I spent a few minutes explaining why they need stronger rope, something to secure it with etc etc. In short I told the exactly why it wasn’t possible given the tools we have.
Barely had I finished imparting my wisdom than my daughter said “Maybe we just need…”
I could have argued, I could have reiterated what I had just told them, I could have told them it was pointless to even try but no, this was a bigger moment than that.
This was the moment where my children’s ingenuity and God given talents entered their training ground. This was the moment where I could either squelch their creativity or encourage it.
This was a crucial moment and I wasn’t going to ruin it.
Sometimes we need to think this way more in the Church.
All too often we fail to encourage each other to use our God-given gifts and instead crush creativity and innovation because of our own past failures.
‘Church’ will continue to be about the seminary taught leaders as long as those leaders restrict and crush the ideas and creative spirits of those they lead.
Let’s allow people to learn by their mistakes, to experience failure and encourage them to use it to fuel innovation and future success.
Let’s release the Church to be who God created them to be!
I agree, we tend to tell people why they can't do things instead of showing them what they can do and then letting them run with it. I wrote something along these lines a while back. We crush creativity, force kids to color within the lines, kill off imagination, and then have the audacity to be surprised when kids want to sit around and watch tv instead of getting active and using their brains to build this amazing world like we did when we were kids. We want this amazing creative God but only if He fits within our boundaries. Do it again like you did before God, we say over and over. We want to see sinners saved, but only if they become just like us for next weeks service.
You got it, Nick!
Excellent post, Peter. I totally agree.
Thanks, Ginny
good post…
and oooooooh a zip line! do you know how to make a zip line? that would be sooo cool.
My zip line buildings skills are currently shrouded in mystery around here.
My kids don't know whether I can make one or not… and that's the way it's going to stay! 🙂
Hey! You didn't say what happened — did they build the zip line? And did their dad help?
They tried their best to build a zip line… and there dad sat and blogged about while they were trying (and failing).
Great thoughts, Peter!
Oh… you let you kids build a zip line in the house?? You are a VERY good daddy… 😉
I didn't say I LET them, as such… but it was kind of inevitable that they would fail so there was minimal risk in not stopping them! 🙂
That's freedom indeed…
Yes it is!
Sometimes, by not crushing their ideas, people come up with new, creative ways to address an issue or solve a problem…and it works!
Exactly. we have this idea that we're all knowing and so if we couldn't make something work, nobody will be able to.
It's so arrogant – and so crushing to the human spirit!
Peter, this is one of the best posts you've ever done. The church needs more of this kind of encouragement and wisdom! Perhaps if we could all just slow down, we'd see these opportunities more often.
Wow. That was a great compliment, Anne.
Thank you!