It has dragged on for nearly a year now, and many say that it has been an open secret for much longer. And it still has not finished. It has caused radical falls and the depression of stock markets around the world. It is of course, the failure of my beloved Greece to have the capacity to pay its debts.
Many are asking the question about the point of dragging things on. I do not know whether this is right but given what we now know wouldn’t it have been easier to let Greece default a year ago, and exit the Euro. Sure it would have shattered the global economic world as we know it. But once done the platform for building again could be laid. As it is now there is no stability.
Jesus began his walk from Galilee to Jerusalem to face his death, and the gospels record many events that slowly build to the climactic last week of Jesus’ life. At the Last Supper the Lord turns to Judas and says “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
All this raises the issue of timing.
The question I want to consider is the timing of our actions in ministry. Timing is crucial in caring for people and growing ministries.
Act early
My experience and pre-disposition is to call for early action in ministry rather than waiting until it is essential that we act.
There are lots of reasons given for moving slowly. The old proverb “look before you leap” comes to mind. For many though, our hesitancy comes from not really being sure that the course we take is right and so we seek extra information. Another reason is that most people avoid conflict and so we don’t act in the hope that the problem will resolve itself without our intervention.
But I worry that these reasons act as excuses for inaction and the inaction hinders the person, others in relationship with that person and the whole ministry.
I want to advocate trusting your observations and playing your hunches. Future functioning can so often be predicted from past action. Though you may not be able to fully articulate why you have a feeling about someone, these feelings usually have a basis in fact. Inability to fully explain the feeling means we do not act. I want to encourage that is we have a hunch, to take it to the person and explore it together. This is the way Christians relate. We work openly to help each other live the life of faith.
If the hunch is wrong, this will usually become clear quickly. If it is denied but true, the opportunity and issue is on the table, and I have frequently seen that God uses this to help the person denying to face up to the matter. If it is correct and accepted, the opportunity arises early to deal with it. Dealing may involve getting help for the person, it may be resolving a problem with the relationships and systems they operate in, or it may be that they change course of action.
To act quickly often means that we can take preventative action rather than remedial damage control. The old proverb “he who hesitates I lost” comes to mind.
When not to act
There are times when we should not act. A fuller comment awaits another blog, but here are some examples:
- when your hunches are more about you than the other person. Always ask why am I doing and thinking this before you act.
- Unsure if you have it right. Keep vigilantly watching
The person is most benefitted by experiencing the consequences of their
