For Our Heads, For Our Hearts

We step into pulpits before 20 and into the spotlights before thousands. We look down at our notes as the clock ticks down in our heads. Our deep breath cuts off that prayer that it all comes out right as we begin to pray, speak, and preach. We are battling for heads and hearts. We speak so persuasively, so powerfully, so carefully that others might think differently. We hope that our words continue down beyond the intellect to where the heart is. That our hearers might live differently (and for the better). We struggle to convince them of spiritual realities and that we understand their physical realities. Our spirits soar at "mm-hmmms," "amen"s, and sheepish chuckles of agreement. We love 'em.

So.

We look down at our notes. Like the notes that came before them, they are tied to memories. Notes that are tied to memories of the one time you saw good, but could NOT find the courage to do it. Notes that are tied to memories of fights you could not walk away from. Notes that are fruits of long lessons in living above that one temptation that continues to dog us. Notes of that one time you time you saw evil itself (and how the shudders made you a better person). Notes that (hopefully) have not been washed of your emotion, scrubbed of your story, scoured of your "I just don't know"s until all that is left is the clean plate of good principles.

Notes that remind us, in situation after situation, God has been fighting for our minds and our hearts. Speaking to change our minds, showing himself to chainge our hearts. So that we can live a little better, a little closer to Him.

We look down at our notes, we pray one more time (because, in God, we believe)

So we...

Speak.