Beginning with yes, can make life less stressful for many of us. Beginning with yes is to assume that a task is possible, a goal can be accomplished and all that is needed is the will, creativity and support to make it happen.
I have often had people coming to me requesting a character reference and I don’t know them. Now this can be difficult knowing the reason for which the document is sought. But one cannot write a character reference for someone they don’t know. Usually I begin with yes, and if I do I
come up with several possibilities or options for writing a reference and I am not one of the referees. It may be discovered that there are other persons who can write that reference and that is done. In rare cases, no is pronounced even when yes is preferred. The point is, begin
with yes.
Beginning with yes offers hope to the applicant and it forces one to think outside the box, to not get stuck with only one option, but to think that there are other possibilities, while maintaining one’s integrity.
What does, ‘begin with yes’ have to do with us and the start of a new church year? As we begin this new church year, we can all decide that we will take a completely different approach to all the projects and plans we attempted in the past year. This is more a test of our attitude and
mindset than failing to face reality. The last year may have been tough. People have been afraid to venture out, even when we preferred face to face meetings, we‘ve had to contend with virtual connection. There are persons who are still making covid excuses, such as how they have
been limited. There are those who continue to complain of the deficits created by covid, and of the losses and the fallouts. And these are real. However, as you face a new church year, what about wearing a different attitude? What about deciding that the pandemic will not stop you
from achieving some goals, that the pandemic will not be an excuse for being generous, kind and helpful. What about determining that you will change your language from being, the pandemic has caused us not to, to being, even with the pandemic we have been able to…”
With this mindset, every single member should begin to have hope in a God who can make things possible through them. A God who enables them to say like Paul, ‘I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Hope in a God who enables each person to see through
the pandemic rather than the pandemic, and hence make the pandemic an opportunity rather than an obstacle. So then if all leaders of classes, auxiliaries, cells committees, take this approach, we would definitely have a better year than last year. What about resetting the
agenda, so that any goals not completed in the last church year can be completed this year; any project shelved can be picked up brushed off and restarted.
There are realities we each have to face, but when we begin with yes we see options for making it happen, rather obstacles preventing achievement. Let’s talk, let’s get creative and let’s begin with yes.
Begin with yes and Vaccine management.
I can’t leave without asking, what if the health ministry had begun with yes regarding the vaccine distribution, if we would have had some of the problems seen over the last 4 weeks? Long lines for vaccination, possibly dumping of expired vaccines, oxygen shortage and the
creation of field hospitals after the death of some. Consider the following which would have been helpful.
- Taking vaccines to the people rather than making it strenuous for citizens to access, especially when more vaccines were available. We heard about logistical issues related to this matter, is this beginning with ‘yes’ thinking?
- Creating more centres and allowing for some drive-in centres where the vaccines could be obtained. Was the ministry more interested in people ‘taking up’ the vaccines rather than the ministry taking the vaccines to the citizens.
- What percentage of no vaccine take up can be attributed to the frustrations associated with the management of this process.
Tribute to Dr Robert Robinson.
We mourn the loss of a friend, a member of the Mona Baptist Church and the son of an outstanding Baptist layman. We extend condolences to the family, wife, Arlene and three children, as well as the Mona Baptist Family. We have lost another brilliant son to covid-19, a
passionate Christian and one who was ruggedly independent in his thinking and was not afraid to express that view. He was a pioneer in medicine and a thinker out the box. May his soul rest in peace and light perpetually shine upon him.
Begin with yes!
Pastor