Within Reach: Now Engage …

Often when you realise something there’s an urge to do something about it. Quite right too.

Is it always wise, however, to just do something – do anything?

Maybe at times there is something that can help you to know what to do. A process of engagement. From realising something there can begin interaction for transformation.

The first step saw the person recognise the sin they had committed. More important than the act and the motivation is the one who is sinned against. A holy, loving Creator who has expressed Himself in creation offers Himself to you and your response is an attitude of rebellion and neglect. Realising that, the first thing to do would be to engage in a relationship with that Creator. Engage in dialogue that informs the action to take. Engage by firstly listening to understand and then offering something that indicates an understanding.

There’s the situation of a person realising the condition of their community – the lack of positive role models for the young people, the level of delinquency and numbers of people who ‘fall through the net’ in terms of educational and employment achievement is alarming. It would be easy to say more money has to be pumped into the situation. It would be better, however, to engage with the community to understand the roots of the lack of achievement. Perhaps develop a degree of empathy with why the conditions have prevailed for so long. This can provide a basis from which actions can can take place. Not only that, but there is a relational basis in which those actions can resonate.

It’s people giving you a chance to share knowledge of what might help because you took the time to consider and care for what they are going through.

The process of engagement significantly helps with the process of seeing efforts for change – if chance if truly desired. This is where engaging can help as well, to uncover if there is the desire to change – to see if there is the belief that the new picture of being really is within reach …

… But will we reach?

(Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden