The title of the blog entry is inspired and lifted from a video I watched today.
The story is of a man named Kent Woodward who suffered a traumatic life changing injury at work. A number of factors contributed to the injury and these were considered as well as the huge impact the accident had on different people.
Ken’s own response to the tragedy was to have an almost evangelical zeal to encourage employers and employees to ensure safety is prioritised and reviewed regularly. His motto in his mission was to provoke others to “Think What If Not If Only”.
This mindset is not one that started with Ken Woodward. It’s wisdom to live in such a way that you don’t accumulate those If Only incidents. The problem with regret is that nothing can be done about the situation itself, because it is done. It cannot be changed.
Sometimes sitting in some church settings I come across folks who are rich in If Only moments. When children are virtually estranged they’re left wondering If Only they had done more, been more understanding, spent meaningful time with them. When rarely any young people stay in the gathering they mourn about the If Only. So many regrets, so much heartache.
The real tragedy is while they mope about these and other issues, they miss the opportunity now to enact the What If factor. What if we spend more time building deep, rich and meaningful relationships with each other now. What if we quit going through the motions and genuine follow the leading of the Spirit to direct what we do as we gather. What if we reach out to the poor and dispossessed in the community not just through services but developing a redeeming community of loving restoring relationships.
You’ll notice I didn’t put these as questions. Not only because they’re not questions, but because they are often nudges, hints and outright commissions that can allow us to take the steps now that prevent heartache of accidents later. Acts of love nipping in the bud division later. Acts of humility now nipping in the bud arrogance later. Acts of grace now nipping in the bud bitterness later.
So many ways in which we can start thinking and living the What If life with God. So many great opportunities to see lives connected with the What If thinking that acknowledges the Lord in all His ways and sees Him make paths straight.
That mindset shift is challenging and it is possible. As we walk and learn that lifestyle so it becomes embedded in all life’s decisions. It’s the progressive What If mentality that sees God’s Kingdom, asks what if we could live that today and sees the way God makes for that to happen.
It’s a mentality I am greatly encouraged to adopt to help others see what happens when we live the What If life.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 