SWITCHING HATS
I have noticed a strange effect in my influence over others. Some of the people that have resisted my influence the most have turned out to be my biggest fans and supporters. Why is this? I think it is because some individuals around me remain free thinkers, seasoned with healthy dose of cynicism, while still maintaining a genuinely submissive heart toward the things of God.
For me this presents the best kind of personal challenge. I am invigorated when I have the privilege of stimulating a free thinker into a bigger and better place. Let me explain.
Many times over the years, I have heard someone say to me - especially regarding personal mission statements - that they "didn't exactly like the assignment at the time" but that they did try to do their part and cooperate with me. Then, I will often hear that later on they quoted their mission statement to others many times over. They often report to me how, "it has been very formative in what aspirations I take on and what I don't."
In a recent e-mail, one person shared with me, "I think if we have a good statement, and live by it, it will end up shaping our dreams and not letting us get too far off track into areas where we are not so gifted and capable... which should enliven us to press forward and have a sense of joy about being in the right place for God to use us."
In the DelHousaye household we live by a concept called Switching Hats! Switching Hats means Darryl and I switch roles - sometimes he wears the authority hat and sometimes I wear the submission hat. Sometimes I wear the authority hat and sometimes he wears the submission hat. This concept is based on a beautiful Scripture recorded in Ephesians 5:15-21 which says,
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit (in the Phillips translation - let the Spirit stimulate your souls), addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord in your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
The Apostle Paul wrote this letter while in prison and therefore these certainly are not frivolous remarks. Notice how he ends this section - with a statement about submitting ourselves to one another and fitting in with one another out of reverence and respect. Upon further investigation, submitting is a present participle referring to a continuous activity and it is in the middle voice indicating it is voluntary. The idea is when we are filled with the Spirit we will practice continuous submission voluntarily.
The concept of Switching Hats reminds me that Darryl and I are trading around submission with each other all the time. Sometimes, I submit to his influence. Sometimes, he submits to mine. These thoughts about voluntary submission set the stage for the next passage in Ephesians which addresses formal times of submission in marriage, family and work situations. The rest of the time, according to the concept of Switching Hats, we are trading around the responsibility to gracefully influence each other.
Influence grows when I am allowed to influence you and you are allowed to influence me. When this happens we are allowing the Spirit to stimulate our souls and we both end up in bigger and better places.
The issue is to press forward into the right place for God to use us - mightily!
Some of my best influence has even swayed the most reluctant hearts! Imagine that!
