“We cannot in one breath proclaim a desire to do good, make impact, be an influencer, yet be noncommittal and disinterested when we’re fed up and tired.”
The fight against indecision and indifference is an all-out slug fest. I’m picking on these two words because I find myself regularly dodging haymakers of doubtfulness and mediocrity. At what point is it okay to say, “I’ll just deal with it later,” or “I really don’t give a flip”? I want the record to show that my natural disposition is one of a go-getter. I am not afraid of work. In fact, I am typically trying to outwork everyone around me. Not only that, but I usually am also emphatic about what needs to get done, what I spend my time on, and who I spend my time with. I remember taking the Gallop Strengths Finders Quiz and my top strength was deliberativeness. I felt this was spot on. So why in the world does indecision keep knocking on my door like a Jehovah’s Witness? Why does it seem that the older I get the more, dare I say it, I am non-committal about one thing or another. Like, why am I overthinking the little things. That’s a perfect picture of indecision.
It’s not just indecision though. It’s indifference as well. I know the dangers of indifference. As a public-school principal, I have been in school settings where it was clear the educators were indifferent to the needs of the students and it was felt in the school culture, heard in the conversations between the adults, and seen in their interactions, if any, with their stakeholders. Indifference is scary dangerous because it looks harmless. You can walk into a room of smiling faces and indifference could be the main attraction. Most people would find it difficult to identify what an indifferent person looks like. Yet, I tell you that it is a silent killer of joy and progress. Knowing that, I am being 100% transparent when I tell you that I battle having blatant disregard for what I should. I am often tempted to lean into, “if you don’t care, I don’t care either.” It’s frightening because if we all took that approach this world would be chaos.
“When I remember my intent, my why, then I focus on the character it takes to maintain that intent and not the character it takes to make the change happen.
This battle royale between indifference, indecision and accomplishing our purpose lies in one solution and one solution alone, what we choose to focus on. The person who has made indecision and indifference their companion is one who is attempting to serve two masters. It cannot be done. We cannot in one breath proclaim a desire to do good, make impact, be an influencer, yet be noncommittal and disinterested when we’re fed up and tired. Oh, I get it. We’re not indecisive or indifferent for no reason. There typically is good reason to throw your hands up. You’ve tried for days, months, or years. Still a wall is there. You’ve communicated over and over again. Still, no change. Yeah, it’s frustrating, but our challenge is to not look solely at the outcome of our efforts but to remember the intent of them. When I remember my intent, my why, then I focus on the character it takes to maintain that intent and not the character it takes to make the change happen. When I trust the character of the God I serve to do what’s best for me, then my focus is on the nature of his goodness and not the outcome of my request or actions. My sight becomes clearer.
With Sincerity,
RSC
With Sincerity 