Click to see Bruce Springsteen singing “This Little Light of Mine”
It happened in a flash. I didn’t even see it coming. I have no idea how it happened, but I was immediately impacted by the result.
It flowed across my thigh, onto my crotch and then puddled on the seat between my legs.
Bummer.
I quickly reached for the upturned cup to stop the continued flow of water making things worse, but the damage was done. I made a feeble attempt with my hand to squeegee the water that had pooled between my legs. Even in the midst of my relative success in pushing volumes of water off the front of my seat, I could feel the water seeping into my pants soaking my rear end.
This was going to be an uncomfortable flight…
I flagged down the attendant for a napkin to dry things off a bit. I also thanked her for not serving tomato juice. We laughed. This was funny. The saving grace was that it was only water, which would dry, and the fact that I was wearing dark jeans. The wetness was, visibly, barely perceptible.
I immediately thought of a principle I learned many years ago that I call “Dark Suit Faith”. It’s having faith that is like wetting your pants in a dark wool suit – it gives you a nice warm feeling, but nobody notices.
Let that soak in for a minute. (Forgive the pun.)
Ok, now that you have that image indelibly imprinted into your mind, it’s having faith that isn’t really that obvious to anyone else. Sure, you have a faith that makes you feel good, but it doesn’t necessarily impact anyone else. And, I don’t think that’s the kind of faith the Lord wants us to have.
Our faith is meant to make a difference. It is meant to have a positive impact in the lives of other people.
Back to the airplane…
After cleaning myself up a bit I settled into the flight and began to do some work. Head phones on listening to music, I began to put together a leadership exercise for my work with The Executive Committee Canada. After close to an hour of this the young man next to me asked me what I was doing – while my headphones were still on. Now this was a clear violation of flight etiquette. “Never try to engage a passenger sitting next to you when they are wearing headphones – it is a clear indication they are not interested in human interaction.”
Regardless, his engagement led to some encouraging interaction as I learned about the exciting new job offering he had flown to San Francisco for from small town Texas. I encouraged him about many things regarding life and leadership, but nothing specific to faith in Jesus.
I was going to invite him to join me in the lounge during his layover. I thought I would bring up the idea of gaining the world, but losing your soul, but did not get the chance as he had to head immediately to his connecting flight.
I began to think about my brother, who is a pastor. He has an ability – or perhaps more accurately stated ‘the willingness’ – to bring up Jesus with everyone he sits with on a plane. In fact, on his last trip he led the guy next to him to Christ. Not me, I tend to tune the world out. Sure I engage on numerous occasions, but not with intentionality to shift the conversation to faith.
I don’t want to have a dark suit faith. I want, with all discretion, discernment, insight and understanding, to sensitively bring Jesus into as many conversations as possible. No, I don’t want to have a one track mind, but I do want to be more intentional to simply ask the Lord what He would have me say to those with whom I interact.
Jesus told us that we are the light of the world and we need to shine. We must be ready to give an account of the hope that is in us. Let’s shine. Let’s be willing to share hope, life and love with people as the Spirit leads us.
No more ‘dark suit faith’ – let’s let our light shine.
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
1 Peter 3:15
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”