Take The Shot

by Rev Glen Schweitzer

I love musicals…and I am not ashamed to own it! Nothing better than singing along to a show that usually has deeper meaning than just the song or script. A number of years ago my daughter organised for me to attend a show with her playing at QPAC – The Wizard of Oz (of course, my daughter had to stop me from humming and singing along…but that’s what we all do…right?) Many of you would know the movie and its characters: Dorothy who was trying to find her way in life (to ‘get home’); Scarecrow who was trying to find a sense of meaning (if I only had a brain); Tinman who is looking for a way to feel (if only I had a heart); and lastly, Lion, who lacked courage (or so he thought). Lion lived worried about doing pretty much anything that involved risk, anything he couldn’t control.

How easily we can become like Lion – scaring ourselves out of being who we are meant to be.

Many years ago, I read a book that talked about courage (partly authored by Patrick Lencioni). Here is an extract:

Courage means dying to our natural tendency to seek safety and avoid risk. Courage is not a lack of fear, but the management and subjugation of fear. As leaders, we are all afraid of something, if only the fear of failure. The courageous leader acts in spite of those fears, and defeats them. The most courageous people of all are those who are afraid, yet do what must be done. NBA Coach Paul Silas tells his players, ‘If you take the last shot and make it, you’re a hero. If you don’t, at least you had the guts to take it. We all need to learn to take the shot.’

I am not sure about you, but for a lack of courage I would pray more boldly, share faith more passionately and serve more reverently. Our accounts of the early Church are splattered with courage and fear, confidence and doubt.

As a Uniting Church it seems like we are in the space at the moment of needing to ‘take a shot’…and it seems like we are in this space in almost every council of the church. Many congregations are having to make courageous decisions about whether they will adapt/change/refocus to give themselves the best possible opportunity to fulfil their call as the embodiment of the church. Many years ago, my Presbytery (Bremer Brisbane) agreed to, and are now leaning heavily into, the Sustainability and Strategic Locations project… all for the sake of the church in 2030. The Synod and Assembly are also, in a large way, trying to update how they operate in their areas of responsibility to ensure Congregations and Presbyteries succeed. There is a great deal happening that could make us want to stop and throw our hands up in the air and say “it’s just too hard”. My prayer is that you will not be like the Lion - afraid to move forward, to try something new, to embrace what could be if we were to ‘take a shot’ for the sake of the Church of 2030 – for the sake of those who are yet to be a part of the Church. My encouragement is based on the words from the writer of Hebrews, ‘Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for’ (Hebrews 11:1-2). The rest of the chapter spells out how, with trusting God, amazing things happened.

I believe courage and faith to be partners. We can be courageous because of God’s faithfulness to us.

It really is time to “take the shot”; to seek the next right answer for us as a Church.

• In what ways are you being courageous in your mission?
• How will you allow faith and courage to be drivers for your congregation?
• How will you courageously step into the Presbytery Capacity conversation we are having as a Synod?
• What are you stepping into that only God can make happen?
• What shot are you taking!?

I would love to join you in this, so please let me know how I can help/serve you in being courageous for the Kingdom.

Grace and peace,
Rev Glen Schweitzer
Email: presmin@bremerbrisbane.org.au