Chasing rabbits

I read a fortune cookie at a Chinese restaurant once that said, “He who chases two rabbits catches none.”

When we first started our church, a man named Bill Pavelin started attending from the very first Sunday.

Soon in our acquaintance, Bill said to me, “Don’t try to please everyone. You will fail every time.” It was something he said to me pretty regularly. He wasn’t bossy or forceful. He was just trying to help a young preacher out. He was with us for about five years, I suppose and then went home to Heaven. I have never forgotten what he told me. In fact, I understand it a bit better now than I ever have.

As we are inundated with commands, orders, preferences and the advice of others, we can become confused as to what we are actually supposed to be doing. The world is full of people who feel it is their job to boss us around and are not intimidated to do so. The struggle comes when we start thinking that their instruction holds any weight. It is interesting to note whose opinion sways you the most. What criteria is your brain using to determine this order anyhow?

There are many rabbits you will be tempted to chase for one reason or another in an attempt to please them. So today, as dozens of people try to sway your behavior in their direction, my advice is to ignore them all.

It’s time we got out of the rabbit chasing business altogether.