The Problem of Potential

"I have to say, I'm so impressed with the potential you see in me."-Michael Scott.

Potential can be a whore...can I say that or rather type that? When paired with a fear of failure, potential can cripple and break someone. It's something I've wrestled with for much of my life. I am a person who is wrought with imagination. When someone mentions something to me, a concept, an idea, or some theory, I take it to a place I like to call "the world of potential and possibilities." Not like Mr. Roger's Land of Make Believe, rather I just start thinking about all the things that could be. Sometimes, somewhere I get swept up in the potential that I become certain of the imaginary and can think myself right out of the kinetic.

At times I think we're horrible stewards of potential. A parable of Jesus' that I have made my mission is that of the three servants found in Matthew 25:14-30. As Jesus explains the Kingdom of Heaven, he talks about three servants each entrusted with an investment by their master. Two of them see the potential for success and invest the money and upon their master's return, have doubled their investments. The other sees only the potential for failure and becomes so sure that failure is inevitable that he buries the money in the ground and upon the master's return he gives him his original investment back, without any loss...but without any gain.

This is one of many passages throughout the Bible that the Christian God seems to be saying to or through His people, "I've given you the potential, DO SOMETHING!" However, like the third servant, many of us give into the fear that potential brings. We operate as reactionaries rather than revolutionaries. We forget that God's purpose lies behind and within the potential, even failure at times is His intent. As my son was learning to walk, I knew he had to fall in order to understand the balance necessary to keep himself stable. I can't imagine that he would have ever grasped the practice of walking if I had never let go of his hands, and he had never fallen down.

As I've mentioned before, we're starting a new journey this year of pioneering a church in Arlington Heights, Illinois. In my mind I know what we can become. I see a people who are passionate about the Gospel. I see men and women engaged in the lives of their neighbors, coworkers, families and friends. I see people who are Biblically literate and who use their lives as investments from their Master. I see a church that can change the world, birthing other churches and raising up generations that live in true community with God, others and creation.

There's a lot of potential to both succeed and fail. To a point, I have to choose which will be our reality and invest wisely what has been entrusted to me, because the fear that can often accompany potential leads us to Michael Scott's other gem of wisdom from last night's The Office.

"My philosophy is this...don't ever, for any reason... do anything...to anyone....ever...for any reason, ever, no matter what...no matter where, or who, or who you are with...or where you are going, or where you've been...ever..."

An unhelathy view of potential will undoubtedly lead to failure, due to never turning it into motion.

For the ears: Amazing - Kanye West
For the eyes: The Office: The Duel
For the mind: Systematic Theology - Wayne Grudem