This Post Is For Smart People Only
Most of us probably know, have worked for, or been teamed with, capital-letter SMART people.
Their genius makes flowers wilt when they walk by.
Dollar bills fly out of people’s pockets to stick to them.
They break down the world–systemically–faster than most of us could sort our legos into like colored piles.
And if they prick their fingers, their entire identities ooze out onto the floor via their blood…because they’ve branded themselves that well.
I don’t know about you, but I tend to drink that kind of smart up.
Yet *sigh* I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but there seems to be a little loophole in all the smart worship.
Smart people follow smart formulas all the time. And even though we can all learn to blog like Seth Godin, tweet like Tim Farriss, and drop one liners like Stephen Colbert, it somehow doesn’t instantly fast track our messages, our products, our causes, or our projects to being household names.
For me, in fact, I think the chase of genius sometimes gets in the way of something that could be even more propelling to what I do: having faith.
Sometimes I wonder if we gave God’s ideas the kind of attention we give Seth Godin’s (or insert your expert of choice), we might be compelled to pursue that unconventional, original thing that stirs in our spirits…that begs to be brought to expression…even if it doesn’t fit the Purple Cow model (or insert some of your go-to success stories here).
Faith–it might not be so bad for me to remember–is the sweeping arm that invites the favor of God onto a person’s life. It is the floor leveler, the universal validator, the reason every one of us should heed the fire of passion God builds in our spirits … even if none of the smart people you know quite get it.
There are worse things to be called than naive. Try faithless for one.
I guess what I’m saying is that this week I’m remembering something: that the truly smart people prepare their horse for battle, but never ever forget that the victory belongs to the Lord.
In the coming weeks, I’m going to be writing some posts aimed at remembering faith in our grownup world. I’m writing it because I need the reminder that faith matters. If you think you might need that reminder too, I invite all you smart people to keep coming back.
Next Tuesday. Consider it a date.
Albert November 1, 2011 (1:14 pm)
I’m in. Let’s do it.
Btw, I think your Twitter may have un-followed me. Like to follow back again? :)
Sarah November 1, 2011 (1:22 pm)
Awesome, Albert. And yes. I had to pare down the Twitter hoards to participate better but know I probably sacrificed many I didn’t want to. I just re-followed you. Thanks for the re-invite!
tracee November 1, 2011 (3:09 pm)
Dang! great words!!
So glad that faith is not about my intelligence, but just about me and him. I am so glad salvation is not up to my smarts, cause i would be screwed!
I think we are trapped in a culture of comparison. There are so many ways to line ourselves up against everyone else. So many portals of comparison. I just like how much God uses the foolish, lame, and, well, me for anything. Humbling.
Justin November 1, 2011 (9:58 pm)
Thanks for the awesome post Sarah. Faith isn’t about a formula, and world-change isn’t the result of following a model. We have to put ourselves on the line and get moving.
Sarah November 2, 2011 (10:25 am)
@Tracee love the statement “we are trapped in a culture of comparison”. You’d make a good counselor. Some smart person should hire you. ;)
@Justin Thanks for relating man. I want to be a good steward of my skills and resources, but it can tempt me to forget where real favor comes from. Glad I’m not the only one!
Lori Biddle November 2, 2011 (2:53 pm)
Comparison is such a trap for sure! It paralyzes me at times…until my focus goes back to faith in THE Creator instead of admiration of the created…then I’m off creating again!
Sarah November 2, 2011 (3:58 pm)
@Lori Important distinction. Admiration of the created is a broad category…works, projects, books, conferences, people… bet all of us fall into that more than we’re aware of.
Albert November 2, 2011 (5:24 pm)
@Sarah: no worries! I’m sure you did what was needed. Glad to be Twitter followers again. :)
Thanks for starting up the blog series on faith. I try to remember that we definitely still work hard with things before us, but we leave the results and the victory to God, who has overcome. Faith knows and believes this.
Shawn Smucker November 4, 2011 (3:22 pm)
“Sometimes I wonder if we gave God’s ideas the kind of attention we give Seth Godin’s…”
Good call.
Sarah November 5, 2011 (3:14 pm)
Thanks @Albert. And hey @Shawn. Godin’s a smarty pants. No two ways about it. But yeah … there should always be a but.
Ray Hollenbach November 5, 2011 (7:57 pm)
Wow, Sarah. This is so good it almost makes me want to give up writing. Nice work.
Sarah November 5, 2011 (10:52 pm)
@Ray You make me laugh every time I hear from you. (In an admiring way.) Keep up the good work on all fronts.
erin November 7, 2011 (6:33 pm)
Yes! I love this! You just expressed something that wells up in my thoughts from time to time, but never gets out -thanks!
Sarah November 7, 2011 (8:24 pm)
Thanks @Erin! Appreciate you stopping by!
Jonathan November 7, 2011 (10:35 pm)
Wow Sarah- this post hits me right where I’m at. I’m really wrestling with my “smart” plans and learning to lay them down. Prayin for eyes to see, ears to hear and feet for His path.
Thanks for sharing- Jp
Sarah November 8, 2011 (12:18 pm)
@Jonathan Thanks for reading, friend. :) We’re all in this life together.