So today is April Fools Day! But rather than actually do a joke blog post (I was really tempted!) I want to encourage you to be the fool! I don’t mean for you to mess about or cause trouble and neither am I being rude, but I want to encourage you to be the one who isn’t afraid to ask the stupid question that could actually help everyone else understand things better.
Let me ask you: Have you ever read something you didn’t really understand? Or been in a meeting when someone is saying something that is just noise to you? I’ll be honest and tell you that my hand is firmly up to both of those questions! Before I go on, and just for fun, have a look at this short video from the US SitCom ‘Friends’ where Joey experiences similar feelings….
Sound familiar?
Now whilst I am being truthful when I said my hand was up for the questions I posed earlier, I do know that occasionally I may write or say something that isn’t clearly understood. I try not to get too technical as, well let’s be honest, I don’t do technical! So I want to encourage you that if you read anything from me either on here in a document I've prepared for you that you don’t fully understand, please ask! Equally, if you're sat in a church or community meeting and are really not grasping what's being said - speak up! You asking the question may not only help you get clarity, but could help countless others as well. I'm more than happy to post something again with better explanations, or better still, to sit down and chat it through with you. And I'm sure the people leading the meeting you're in will be happy to explain things too.
I often use videos from Simon Sinek as he has such a great, down to earth, encouraging style. I’ve been reading and listening to him for ages. I return to him for this blog as I came across this video previously and just had to use it. He’s taken my blog title a step further by saying – be the idiot! Now we don’t allow that word in my house but I’ll allow it here for artistic purposes! But his point emphasises what I’ve been going on about today. Please don’t be afraid to be the one who speaks up and asks the question that maybe others were thinking. It’s the only way we’ll all grow and learn together. It’s the only way to be in life.
Until next time! Go on - be the fool! You don't know how valuable that could be!