What is the 10% that goes unsaid? What do I mean?
Well to know what it is-- it's probably easier to start with what it is not...that's what we usually come across in life.
The 90% we experience every day is normal every day life..coming, going, working, coming home, hanging out at home, going to church, the grocery store, working out...it's all of the activities we do, the hats we wear to do them....and the substance=not so much.
The 90%--it's comfortable, it doesn't rock the boat, it maintains the status quot....it's not challenging, but then again nobody gets hurt. The 90% just feels good so just turn it down a notch and don't get too worked up. It doesn't insult anyone or step on their beliefs. It just sits down after work and turns on the tube and zones out nicely.
It makes me want to jump up and scream....
You see, nobody wants the other 10% and you know what, nobody wants to step up and give it anyways. To go to the 10% requires a lot from a person...to really desire to go there requires much....
Courage--yes it takes courage to speak the 10% nobody speaks. If it were easy; everybody would be doing it.
Listening and empathy--In order to speak that 10% it requires a lot of listening to others, not planning what we will say next. Seek first to understand, then to be understood as the parable says. Invest the pre-time with your heart.
Patience--There is a skill to knowing when. It's all about timing--giving it when needed--not too soon, not too late.
What is an example of speaking into that 10%? How about...
Al Pacino in "Scent of a Woman" where he listens carefully, he knows Charlie well by the time he speaks up to represent him. He listens to Charlie's story and plight. He has patience to listen at first at the trial until he can't take it any more. And then what? The 10% comes out..
Powerfully
He tells everyone what he sees and paints the picture. He speaks the truth that otherwise would have gone unsaid. He stands up for someone because he sees character.
That's a truth about the 10% I've come to know...if we don't step up at certain moments then those moments will pass and our voice will not be heard.
What happens with that 10%...why is it worthwhile???
All of the growing, challenges in life are in that 10%
All statements that challenge us to our core lie there in the 10%.
The inner growth--it's in the 10%...
The uncomfortable--it's in there...
The out of your element...it's in there
The unrehearsed awkwardness...it's in there
The opportunity to ruin a friendship...it's in there
The opportunity to knock down walls...it's in there
The chance to make a fool of yourself...it's in there
The chance to create a defining moment--it's in there
The push to encourage and inspire--it's in there...
It's a great risk for an opportunity of great reward
Anyone can live in the 90%....
It takes someone to be bold, loving and just a bit crazy to cross over to the 10%
I used to think of the 10% as a weapon, a special sword to be wielded skillfully...not so
It is a weapon when wielded in the wrong way without patience and timing--period.
In the right hands -- at the right time...it is more like a surgeon with a knife carefully doing an implant operation or a surgery----realness, encouragement, enlightenment, joy, wonder, hope....or carefully attempting to help carve something for removal. Triage for someone we love and care about.
Everything worthwhile in life happens in that 10%---so why do we all--myself included avoid it?!
To quote Pacino from the movie--"Now I have come to the crossroads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew. But I never took it. You know why? It was too damn hard."
Carving out the time, empathy and quality space to do this is hard. And so moments come and pass because we are unwilling to step into that moment and give what we are called to give of ourselves. Here's the bottom line--the 10% changes the world.
It is time to live in that 10%---it's where everything good for me has ever happened...it is why we are given voices to speak into each other's lives...to offer words of hope, love, encouragement...and yes to challenge each other too. Without someone being willing to do that for me, I'd be long gone from this world.
Life and being a believer are not about being a bunch of really nice guys...and boring everyone to death is not the substance of the 10%.
Challenging each other and finding a way to use your voice...encouraging and inspiring...that is the 10% never said.
It's kind of like driving a Ferrari while blind...big risk, big reward----hooooooah
...the 10% changes the world...
Good Thoughts. Influenced by Patch no doubt.
ReplyDelete