My family’s favorite podcast is, hands-down, the Brant and Sherri Oddcast featuring Brant Hansen who authored the outstanding book Unoffendable. In one episode, Brant was demonstrating the danger of hurry by sharing a story about college students who were given a topic to study, then told they were to go to another building where they would give a short speech on this topic.
Some of the students studied the story of the Good Samaritan from Luke’s gospel, while other students studied topics unrelated to compassion or service. Before walking to the other building, an actor was staged along the path, pretending to be injured and in need. Then of the students were told they were late for their speech appointment, while other students were told they had plenty of time.
That is, some students felt rushed, some didn’t.
To a one, the students who believed they “had time” stopped and helped the injured person, while those who believed they didn’t “have time” ignored the injured actor even if they were going to speak on the story of the Good Samaritan. That is, the fact that they’d just studied about stopping for an injured person had no impact on their decision, the deciding factor was whether or not they believed they “had time” to stop.
The deciding factor on whether we do some good work or not: Whether or not we believe we have the necessary resources to do it.
Will we live out the Second Mile or not? What is the determining factor?
Join me for Episode 21 as we examine the ways that a “lack” mentality sabotages our Second Mile efforts. What would Jesus say to us who feel this overwhelming sense of being spread too thin? Good news ahead.
About the Kari Patterson Podcast: We need wisdom, y’all. Like, yesterday. Right?! We need God’s perspective. We need His heart. We need joy, resilience, clarity, and conviction. Feeling this need, author Kari Patterson opens Scripture and shares candidly how God’s Word informs her daily life. Appropriate for all ages, relatable and refreshing, join Kari for conversations on responding to unkindness, emotional freedom, parenting dilemmas, self-pity, forgiveness, and more. (Available most of the places you enjoy podcasts, including those with links above.)