That one word

One word. I just had to think of one word. 

As it does every year, January first came and went, and I successfully neglected to choose that one word to focus on in the new year. In theory, I really like the idea of choosing one word. I appreciate the precision and the conciseness of the endeavor, but finding that one, perfect, all encompassing, wondrous word always eluded me. Granted, seeking perfection instead of inspiration probably distracted me a bit.

Yet, a moment presented itself a couple of weeks ago, forcing me from my self-imposed neglect to successfully choose that one word.

Some of Mexico City's finest ministers and leaders breakfasted together on a recent Wednesday morning when my friend and missionary colleague, Sandy Kazim, challenged us to choose that one word to focus on in the new year. Choose your word, she said. Write it down. Share it with a table mate. Alas, there would be no getting out of this one.

Think, Wendy, think.

How about faith? Faith is a good word. Familiar and prosaic maybe, but a solid choice. Or what about hope? Hope is a good, too. Poetic and strong; it sounds especially lyrical in Spanish – esperanza. Sort of just rolls off your tongue …

Focus, Wendy, focus.

As I listened to a room full of women serving fearlessly under some of the most trying circumstances in Mexico City, I found myself coveting their relentless spirit. Overwhelmed with news from my own country in a tempest tossed year of post-truth, alternative facts, and bald-faced lies I realized in that moment exactly what I needed. Courage.

I found my one word.

Yes, courage. Courage to face down the lies. Courage to fight for the truth. Courage to live faithfully. Courage to pray fearlessly. Courage to preach prophetically. I choose courage. Courage is a choice after all, is it not?

A long time ago, and many times since, the people of God had a choice between fear and courage. As per Moses' instructions, twelve leaders of Israel explored the land of Canaan. After forty days, they returned with a cluster of grapes and an honest, objective account of all they witnessed. Seizing the moment, Caleb encouraged Moses to take possession of the land. We should go, he said. We can certainly do it.

But the men who went with Caleb said, No we can't. And they began to spread a bad report among the Israelites.

Often when we refer to this story, we qualify the bad report as nothing more than unfortunate news we don't want to deal with. But such an anemic interpretation distracts us from the very essence and the severe consequences of the bad report referenced here.

To be clear, an honest accounting or an unfortunate diagnosis is not in and of itself a bad report. It may be bad news, for sure, but the truth cannot be ignored or dismissed just because it proves difficult. On the contrary, and more specifically, a bad report exaggerates the truth, embellishes the facts, and serves only to dissuade believers from acting courageously and living faithfully to God's commands.

I'll let you in on a little secret. When you're afraid, it's much easier to disobey God when you can convince everyone else in your sphere of influence to disobey as well. Just skew the truth. Offer a common enemy. Unite them in fear. It's an age-old tactic. But you knew that already, right? We've all seen it before.

With an impassioned appeal, Joshua and Caleb tried to inspire the people of God to move forward, but to no avail. Fear won out that day. And everybody lost.

God offered his people a good gift. A solid promise. But the faithless actions of determined, frightened men treated God's good gift as evil and it worked. Wholly and stubbornly united in fear, the people of God chose to remain outside of God's promise.

“If only we had died in Egypt!” they cried. “Or in this desert!” they lamented. In a twist of irony, they got what they wished for. The fearful men claimed the land would devour them if they chose to go, but in the end it was the wilderness that swallowed them up. All of them. Not one of the faithless, fearful men ever saw the land of promise or enjoyed its abundance. A future generation would claim what the previous generation feared.

Truth be told, courage does not shield us from heartache nor does it guarantee we won't suffer loss. But courage gives us something fear never will: A clear conscience before God. A chance to live with reckless abandon. A shot at the promise land.

Daily, I am overwhelmed with bad reports inciting me to fear refugees fleeing, despise women marching, distrust scientists researching, and criticize people of color protesting. Enough already. Choose what you will, but I choose truth. I choose life. I choose compassion.

I choose courage.

I am grateful for the Joshuas and Calebs of today. Faithful men who serve with humility, choose their words wisely, value the unblemished truth, and respect the image of God in all humanity. Thank God for the Esthers and Deborahs of our world! Courageous women who rise to the challenge, lead with integrity, and face down ungodly empires even when their very lives are on the line. I'm with them.

I choose courage. 

But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. Hebrews 10:30