There Goes The Parade #381

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I shared a message with my student leaders: when the parade is going by, you have two choices. One, stay on the sidewalk and watch everyone else walk by. Or leave the sidewalk and join the parade. It’s really that easy. But before you make your decision, think of every person you’ve seen in a parade. I bet they’re smiling as they pass out candy, ride the float, or hold a sign. Maybe it’s because they’re walking for a purpose in a direction that suits them. I finished the message encouraging them to be a leader by saying, “You’ll never lead the parade if you keep staying on the sidewalk of life.”

Doesn’t this example say a lot about our lives? Whether it’s about income, social status, vocation, possessions, or relationships. Everyone has a story of regret for not taking a chance in their life. For not taking a risk, moving outside of normal, because they let their fears stop them. Rest assured that today, I won’t tell you to zipline or rock climb; I only hope to encourage you to take one chance, make one call, or take one step off the sidewalk.

I might be a visual learner because lessons from shows, movies, or videos sometimes grab my attention and stick with me. Let’s start with a scene from the movie, Transformers, where Sam and Mikaela are standing in a ditch, and Bumblebee opens the car door. Sam says, “He wants us to get in the car.” Mikaela responds, “Go where?” Sam doesn’t know where; all he knows is that he has to take a step, and he says, “Fifty years from now, when you’re looking back at your life, don’t you want to be able to say you had the guts to get in the car?” Both of them felt the call, took a chance, and got into the car, not knowing where they’d end up.

One of the most popular scenes in the series The Chosen occurs when Jesus and Nicodemus meet on the roof, essentially depicting John 3. That scene is powerful, no doubt, but there’s one scene in episode 8 that speaks to choosing comfort over calling. The disciples are about to leave for Tiberius, and Nicodemus hides behind a wall within earshot. One disciple says, “Everyone’s here.” Jesus speaks through the wall directly to Nicodemus and asks, “Everyone? Anyone else?” He then says, “You came so close.” In that moment, Nicodemus knew that it was meant for him as he stayed on the sidewalk and watched the “parade” pass by without him. He probably felt the sting of regret for the rest of his life.

Lastly, if you know the story in Matthew 19, then you know about the rich young ruler who refused to sell his possessions to follow Jesus. The young man walked away sorrowful, already regretting his decision to stay on the sidewalk and treasure his possessions rather than follow the grand marshal of the parade. I believe the young man was called to do something different, even before the conversation, because he was the one who approached Jesus first. He had a calling, but just didn’t know it. Again, he came so close.

You know that time keeps passing, regardless of how we try to control it. So my question for you is, will you let it slip by and wonder how it went so fast? Or will you surrender control, let go of what you're holding onto, and step into the parade/get into the car, not knowing what’s ahead? I know it’s scary. But the truth is, watching parade after parade, opportunity after opportunity pass by, or relationship after relationship fade away leaves you with only sorrow and regret. So why not? What if today’s the day for you to leave the sidewalk and join the parade of your calling?

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