The past two or so days were nerve wrecking in that I had to do the one thing I dread the most; public speaking. And I say dread because I was being graded for it so it had to be A- grade. Simply put, my client's life depended on it. But, something good came out of all this: I learnt a precious gem that is worth a share.
So, sitting in a little corner, wondering how on earth am going to mask my nerves before those learned minds, I heard a whisper...
"Imagine you are a guy and you want to ask out this beautiful girl, the girl of your dreams. You can't mess that one up. Whatever you say, your demeanour and non-verbal cues will either win her heart or make you look like a fool. So, the ball is in your court, a wedding ring depends on it. Do what thou wilt, but do it quickly!"
Hearing that, I was like what?! Am not a guy but even if I was, there's no girl to ask out. Even if there was, she is... not.. here.. then voila, brainwave! I should give this presentation the same energy, the same devotion, the same determination that a brother trying to get a sister would. I was this brother, and the judges were the lady I liked. I must persuade them, I must convince them that 'nobody loves them better than I do.'
With a smirk on my face, I went out of the corner, tenaciously going to present my case..
Now, this isn't about public speaking, much as it may work. Rather, this is about something bigger, something better than public speaking. This is about Christianity (you weren't expecting that ey...)
In a similar sense, we as Christians have an argument to present before the world. An argument that there is something more to look forward to than this dismal existence and what's more is that we have to persuade our audience day by day. In a world that is bleak and despondent, in a world that has flickering flames of forlorn hope, we have a duty to present our substantive argument that there is indeed a better way; that there is hope. But, the reason why our arguments are not water-tight, I reckon is because with don't present them in an enthusing way, that captivates the attention of everyone and make them believe that we could be making sense. The laissez-faire attitude with which we carry ourselves wouldn't even take anyone for dinner!
And yet we wonder why it is so easy to make one party as opposed to inviting them to church!
There is so much that goes into convincing an individual, and the large part of it is not what you say but how you say it and how you live out the little you say.
I was ardent fan of Ussain Bolt at a point in my life and I recall him giving tips on how he manages to keep his body in shape and I think I tried it once or twice. Why, you ask, well I don't know. I guess I wanted to do it cause Bolt said it. However, it is an indisputable fact that whatever gold medal(s) Bolt acquires in his life time are just temporal. Notwithstanding, look at how much devotion the brother throws in but contrast it with the devotion of the average christian, pity!
I think it's high time we got our act together and knew who we are and what our object in life is because really, a wedding ring depends on it. When the wedding of the Lamb comes, the well done will only be said to those who were zealous enough, sober enough and determined enough. If you can do so much for a one night public speaking event, how much more for a life time, knowing that we "have been made a spectacle before men and angels..."
