I have a colleague, Margaret, who, when planning any sort of program or curriculum, will invariably demand an answer to a very essential question:
“So What?”
Margaret was not being disrespectful, fatalist, or confrontational. She always to understand, to have the whole planning team understand and agree upon, the anticipated result. How would we evaluate success of our work? This, of course, is Stephen Covey’s second habit: Begin with the end in mind. The “So What?” question always clarified diverse motivations as well as helped to keep planning on track.
An always unsatisfactory answer to the “So What?” question was “Because that is the way that we have always done it.” A strategy of nostalgia is no way to build forward towards the future..
When Jesus explains the parable of the Sower and the Seed, He identifies that “The seed sown… is the one who hears the Word of the Kingdom.” That seed sown may fail to understand the message and be stolen away. That seed sown may be received with joy yet never become fully rooted and when faced with challenges, fall away. That seed sown may be surrounded and choked by worldly anxiety and the lure of riches and never bear fruit, the promise is found in the seed sown upon rich soil and the assurance of fruitfulness.
Sow what?
Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope. 1 Peter 3: 13 Make sure that whatever you do in ministry speaks the Word of Jesus and God’s Reign.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
