In war we implement violent tactics to try and overpower the opposition. All too often we do this without understanding the enemy and are following the vision by way of edict of another man.
Being in the minority means challenging the vision of that man, and aligning your purpose to God's grace and truth. Trouble arises when the world's vision doesn't align with God's purpose, but you follow along the path of assimilating into such a culture.
Go tangent to the curve. Risk immersing into God's purpose, and you'll discover His truth and loving grace. People look or easy solutions and the simple fact that the answer for sweet reward is your willingness to make decisions aligned to God's path vs. your own. Not many have this willingness and allow the friction and distractions of the world to create division between God and this truth. I said it was simple, but not easy.
There is such friction in our lives and ways the devil attacks us. He knows or weakness and preys on us broken and wounded fawns or sheep bleeding out in the field for a hungry vulture to sink his sharp talons into our sides.
We are so easily tempted and swayed that if we don't refresh our minds and recalibrate or hearts via a daily cadence, we are bleeding prey, and the shark is in our scent. Lots of nature references, I know, but framing in a way that we shouldn't kid ourselves - it's a war out here and the battles are for our souls. Don't be a victim or play the blame game. If you allow the violent opposition to overrun your life without equal or more reaction, you'll be run over. A man takes a stand, and puts a stake in the ground for the direction he will embark upon. I'm writing all this with the voice in my head of the leader in 300 by the way.
We can't win the war alone. It takes self awareness, diligence, hard work, strong community, and constant recognition of these facts. Also, it takes accountability to do the work. If I didn't buzz kill it enough, you must do this every moment of every day. When you fail, because you will, you fail forward. Then, you repeat this process of refinement and progressing others around you and yourself.
We forget that we answer to God, not a man, a boss, a government, a partner, a car, a ring, or the like. Sure, we submit to certain expectations while renting time roaming around in our bodies as vehicles, and I'm not suggesting we all become extremist hipsters and boycott all norms, but am prodding you to challenge yourself to be aware and take actionable steps to "fight differently".
Men, and everyone for that matter - fight differently. Be a warrior for your family, battle for a happy and healthy home, and utilize the tools God presents you with to win the war daily. Jesus was not some normal man who had a nicely trimmed beard and clean robe like in the pictures. As the author in the book "Wild at Heart" describes Jesus, I'm encouraged to realize that He didn't have bruised knuckles and dirty nails from going around hitting and punching people to serve truth. He had them from hard work, getting his hands dirty, and fighting differently.
If you try to win wars by traditional knee jerk reactions of spewing out hurtful words, succumbing to your immediate selfish desires, and going in without notice to distractions - you're not a disruptor. You're an oxygen stealing, armchair dad, sideline complainer, "yes" man, and cultural norm. Is that the resume you think God has for you? Is that on top for your "purpose" statement?
You are here to, if not doing so already, to be present, not be the norm, get your hands dirty, and fight differently. To stop being a consumer (of lies and distractions) and become a producer (of viable quality actions, love, and truth). Be a warrior for your family, others, your home, and your soul. Temper yourself to strong steel. Invite God into all you do. Home, job, coffee meetings, family, coffee, etc. Don't just "do" different like everyone else, be different. Align to Him vs. allow separation. This is your purpose statement. Better yet, these are your actionable marching marathon orders. Emulate Jesus and pray with and for others, be a great friend, humble yourself to His will, speak softly and act gently, an realize that being tough also means being of love. I'm not a know it all, am imperfectly perfect like you, being shaped and molded constantly, and am not preaching at you - but with you, and am being a friendly messenger. Onward and forward men, and women. Go, and move your feet and stop being a groove in a seat!
With gratitude,
Brian Siegel
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