Ready to say Yes

The oldest, shortest words -- "yes" and "no" -- are those which require the most thought.

-- Pythagorus, Greek philosopher and mathematician

In our 21st-century busy-ness, we often talk about the importance of saying "no" -- of grounding ourselves in what is worthy rather than allowing our days to drift past without a keen sense of awareness. And while our ability to set appropriate boundaries is important, our willingness to say "yes" can be even more critical.

Do you remember Jesus' words to the church in Laodicea, the unfortunate congregation that has lapsed into lukewarm apathy?

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3:20)

How ready are you to say "yes" when Jesus knocks, even if the knock is an interruption? Our western postmodern mindset locks us into schedules and patterns, SMART goals and equations, and it can be painfully difficult to deviate from what we believe is right and good. But what if we assume that Jesus will interrupt every day? What if we wake up each morning anticipating his interruption, not knowing when it will occur but confident that some interference in our day will rearrange our expectations into something wonderfully new?

Jennifer Garner and Edgar Ramirez tackle this yes/no battle head-on in a delightfully silly Netflix movie released last week called Yes Day. When increasing tensions with their three kids lead to the realization that they are spending their days repeatedly saying "no," the parents agree to a 24-hour "Yes Day": anything goes, including the kids' wildest whims (with a few safety ground rules in place, of course). While the chaos that ensues is campy, there are poignant moments when most of us would instinctively say "no," and yet the Mom and Dad must take a breath, stop the automatic "no," reverse their answer, and step into something risky but (mostly) joyful.

What if you spent a day this week listening to your own "nos" and pondering whether a reversal would open new doors? Saying "yes" is not always about adding new tasks to an already full calendar; the best kinds of "yes" are to interruptions and innovative approaches that leave you thinking about your work and relationships in all new ways. We are called to be transformed daily, Friends. How will you anticipate the interruption and be ready with your "yes" today?

Christ's peace on your week,

Jennie