Hunting Wabbits

I have, however, enjoyed quail hunting a time or two while down at Purcell Farms in Alabama. One of the coolest parts for me is watching the dogs work. They know their job and are beyond excited to do it, picking up the scent of the hiding birds and weaving through the field until they find their prey. Pointing and barking, they flush the birds out, and we start shooting. Then they go and pick up what the other people shot and look at me with curiosity, wondering what I was aiming at. They are remarkable animals. 

We find this species all around us. People who are constantly scurrying around looking for problems to point out. They spend their days pointing and barking at issues, but not stepping in to solve them. As Teddy Roosevelt famously said, "It's not the critic who counts, but the man in the arena taking the shots." 

"God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles." (Acts 19:11)

Paul spent his life in the arena, not just identifying issues, but risking his life to solve them. God works through our hands, but we have to make them available. He wants to use us to solve problems, not just point them out.   

I often remind my teammates to not come to me with a problem, but also with a few recommended solutions. Think through a few scenarios about what could be done to improve the situation or correct an issue, then let's discuss those ideas and add a few more. Just standing there barking and pointing all day isn't getting us anywhere.  

There are far more people pointing out problems than those solving them. 

It's the problem solvers that are the most valuable. 

Get in the arena. Don't just bark and point at issues. Take the shot at solving them. Sure, you may miss the mark, but at least you took the shot. Remember, if Jesus can use a guy who spent his early career killing anyone who spoke His name, He can use you too. Even Elmer Fudd never quit trying.