These names have been flying around the Internet for the past week.
My thoughts are not about Jason personally or the Kony campaign.
They are to remind us that just as quickly as fame came so did what looks like "the fall".
The "idea" of his message seemed powerful enough, wanting justice for children.
But was he naive to think it was just that easy?
You make a video, it goes viral and the darkness goes away?
Did he ever question his ability to cope with what would have come his way or the price you pay for such a campaign?
I believe there are some important lessons to be learned here:
1. There is always a price to pay - always.
The truth is most people's pain isn't seen publicly.
I don't mean movie stars and famous athletes who are stalked 24/7.
I am talking about the folks who have laid down their lives, sold their houses, moved away from comforts and family because they want to help be apart of the change they want to see in the world today. We live in a day and time when we edit out everything that isn't working for us.
We text, tweet, Facebook and e-mail knowing details without building relationships leaving the door locked for people speak truth into our lives, accountable to no one. Yet for the people who live where the rubber meets the road there are no edit buttons. None. At times you need more grace than you think exists. You place a guard on your heart, your mind and your mouth daily wondering just how it is the Lord allows us to have a free will and how these kinds of things can happen.
2. We shouldn't practice with other peoples lives.
My last trip to Haiti stirred something with in me about the weight and responsibility we have to our fellow human kind. We use "in-style" buzz words like, empowering, moving out of survival and justice. This is real life, this isn't practice stuff so we can feel better about ourselves. We have the ability to create a nightmare out of what we do if we are not careful. These people don't get on a plane after two weeks and go home to a better life. For better or for worse this is their reality.
3. Character, Integrity and Support.
So often we are in such a hurry for the Lord to use us and to send us out to save the whole world because we know our passion will change everything. I think it is in times like this that the Lord put the story of Jacob in the bible. He endured years of refining and working on his character, years!
Maybe Jason Russell has never read about Jacob? I don't know what he believes about God or if he is a man of faith. I just can stop thinking about the fact that when we wrestle with something bigger than our self there is a pretty good chance you will walk with a limp. Hopefully, you will have had an encounter with the Lord as well and he changed your name to reflect this life changing encounter.
We are not islands unto ourselves, doing this thing lone ranger style. The goals we set as our passion need to be God things if we are going to bring change. He is all for helping the widow and the orphan and he says it over and over again. As a matter a fact he says they will always be with us. You are not going to miss your chance for him to use you in a powerful way - trust him. Let him develop character to sustain what he has called you to do.
Lesson:
Yes, set a goal! Don't do nothing.
Have a support system in place, do it in God's time and not yours.
Let God bring people to justice. He is good at it.
Be responsible for your actions, they may do more damage than good if you are not careful.
Learn from the people you are working with.
Make sure your family life and personal life are in order before you save the world.
Have a covering of folks who have processed your vision with you and are behind you supporting you in every way known to man.
Last but not least, remember the wisdom of this Haitian Proverb.
"To stumble is not to fall."
There is a really good chance you are going to stumble along the way.It is part of our nature as humans.
Do your part to avoid hurting yourself and others along the way.
Give yourself grace, he does.
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