The world is a really cold place. I know this because I’ve become somewhat frigid. I normally smile at people when I’m in public but lately I’ve found myself returning the energy in the room. If no one is smiling, neither will I. I’m not sure if Disney World is still the happiest place in the world, but I can tell you the grocery store is the unhappiest place in the city!

Inflation is surging, shrinkflation is the new packaging norm and food quality is steadily declining. There’s so much unhappiness in the atmosphere of shopping for life’s essentials so it’s easy to blend in. But as a believer, we’re not called to blend in, we’re called to shake up stuff! In the coldness of the world, don’t be a thermometer only reading the temperature of the room. Become a thermostat and become willing to change the atmosphere and turn up the temperature of the love of Christ.

When my sister Brandi passed away in April, I noticed that unless I mentioned it, most people didn’t notice what my family was experiencing. This was eye opening, to say the least. I learned how true it is that you never know what the next person is really dealing with. Yes it was a struggle to smile some days and dealing with the sudden separation of my assignment at the church where I’d served for the last five years, I didn’t care to smile at anyone nor did I care who was smiling at me. It was dark and cold, and so was I! I knew that I couldn’t stay that way but I didn’t really want to change. It felt good, comfortable, even. And then I realized that may be the reason so many are the way they are, today! I’m not back to 100% yet, but I am glad that the Lord will uphold me when I can’t or don’t even care to (which I honestly didn’t).

There’s no shortage of unhappiness, doubt, distrust, and worry. Why not replace it with the eternal hope of Christ you have in your life? I have made a concerted effort to be the change the room needs. I accept that assignment for each room I enter. I enter as a thermostat understanding that my impact will be felt as long as I’m “on.” I’m thinking of those of you struggling with whatever life has brought your way. I’m reminding you that God is the joy and strength of your life. I’m reminding you to smile, today. Did you know that a smile can turn someone’s day around? You will smile again and when you do, sow that smile into the life of someone who could surely use it!

BIG CHANGE COMING TO SUNDAY SCHOOL

In his iconic line from “Boomerang,” John Witherspoon etched himself into the lexicon of movie lovers and ultimately African-American vernacular when he said, “you got to co-ordinate!” He was well coordinated, down to his belt and the lining of his blazer. 

I want to share a similar message with creatives and leaders reading this: COLLABORATE! When I heard the Lord about my song in February, I knew that I couldn’t finish it on my own. When I originally recorded it, only I and my wife were on the song. I knew that if it were to come to fruition and reach the people we’re called to reach, I would need to bring some other people aboard. 

Initially, I handled everything in house because of budget constraints. I knew that I couldn’t remain limited to only what I could do if this song were to ever emerge from the storage on my hard drive. I want to share this with you, that amid all of your frustrations, limitations and other complications, try the solution of collaboration!

There is a social media meme that says, “get somebody else to do it” referencing a job or task that is unbearable or unwanted. And while many times, what has confounded the work is possible by our hands, intellect and expertise, that may be just what we need to do. By finding someone else to do even what you could do will free up your time and could even broaden your vision for the uncompleted project.

Who can do what you need done? If you can do it, but haven’t done it, will it ever get done? This was the question I had to ask myself and really be sober about the answer. So, I called a few friends and let them do what they do well. By allowing them to do what they do so well, I was free to do what I do best and in this instance, it was making, recording and editing music. 

I don’t know what collaboration will solve for you, but I share this in hopes of alleviating the stressors that lead to and keep you bound in cycles of procrastination and stagnation. As the year began, I heard “collaboration” so strongly. I asked this about myself and my companies but the Lord showed me that I would be coming along to join others’ efforts. Understand that the concept of collaboration is involves and includes you as a solution but be willing and open to those will be that for you, as well! 

I learned a lot the last time I released an edition of The Weekly/Weekend Word. I use a very popular email blast server and have since I began. Since my “audience” is varied with each company, I have different blasts that go out to the varied audiences. Lately, I’ve combined the audiences to share the stories and lessons with a single audience. This has always been a point of pain for me though because seemingly with each blast, there are people who unsubscribe. 

What stings the most is that I know each person who unsubscribes. We have some kind of relationship yet, when it comes to them receiving this email, they’re not interested. I’ll never forget the man and former church member who would take time each day to send us a song and a story. He was so diligent, I didn’t even have time to open many of the emails. Yet, when I returned the favor with either an email from The SMG Report or news about a book release, he wasn’t interested. Or what about the pastor whose sound system I helped set up. We talk on Facebook all the time but for some reason, he didn’t care to indulge this email. 

I try not to take these things personally. Truth is, I shouldn’t and that analytics are the worst thing that could have ever have happened to us. Without fail, we restructure everything to fit the analytics and refine our practices to doing what works best. In the process, we sometimes lose what works best for us. I find myself saying this often, but this email always brings it back to me. Something else happened the last time I sent one of these out, though. In the closing of his message a few weeks ago, Dr. Alvin Pope referenced one of the entries. 

He sure did and it was at the closing of service when there’s really the greatest impact (if you ask me). What that did for me, affirmed this in a way that was so needed. I can see who opens, reads and even clicks, but by Sunday, I was no longer checking. So, to see that someone had actually read it and gleaned something from it did my heart good. Here’s the lesson, we are never unseen or unheard. 

What you release may not garner the response you hoped it would, but in all you do, give people a chance to hear you and experience what you have to offer! There’s a song that says when people won’t listen, ‘make them hear you.’ I agree with that but it’s as simple as not canceling yourself because of who you think won’t hear you. It’s as simple as showing up in the world, regardless of who shows up to see you, they hear you! And finally, get this, God has wasted nothing in creating the majesty of who you are! The people you want may never acknowledge it, but for the world in search of you, let them hear you! Why deprive those who need what you have because those you want to have it don’t want it? This is part of the revelation of Romans 8:28, those who didn’t want God made way for those He hadn’t been available to and when those reject Him, He will again be the God of those He originally appeared to. In this, everybody will have had access to the grace and goodness of God. It all works out anyway, so let the world hear you!