Hemming and Hawing is Lame

Just before our new “Dig In” series began, I asked for an orange stripe to be painted on the back wall of the stage. It matches the graphics for the series and visually ties everything together.

A volunteer was scheduled to paint the stripe.

As we approached the weekend, I heard that the volunteer had to postpone the painting.

Pastor DJ asked me if I needed him to “make it happen” (paint the stripe himself).

I said, “No, it’s OK. You don’t have to do it. I just don’t like starting a series and have the visual elements added after the start—but it’ll be fine this time.”

Well, Pastor DJ painted the stripe. He made it happen, even though I didn’t give him a straightforward answer.

He took the initiative.

He deserves “props” for realizing that it was important to me and personally taking care of it.

However, if Pastor DJ hadn’t painted the wall, it would not have been a failure on his part.

It would have been a failure on my part.

Why?

I failed to give a straightforward answer. I hemmed and hawed.

I danced around the point—making it completely unclear what I was saying.

Hemming and hawing is lame.

Jesus said, “Let your yes mean yes and your no mean no.” (Matthew 5.37)

Sometimes, we try to put something between the lines, and then get upset when others don’t catch it.

I like what the Apostle Paul said in his letter to the Corinthian church, “Don’t try to read between the lines or look for hidden meanings in this letter. We’re writing plain, unembellished truth…” (2 Corinthians 1.13 MSG)

We should write, and say the plain, unembellished truth.

We should say what we mean and mean what we say.

No more hemming and hawing.

No more hiding what we really mean between the lines.

If what we’re saying or asking for isn’t obvious to our listeners, they’re not the ones to blame.

We are.

Every time I see that orange stripe on our stage wall, I’m reminded…

Leave no question in their mind what you’re saying and what you’re asking for.

Never expect anyone to have to read your mind.

Say what you mean and mean what you say.

Let your yes mean yes and your no mean no.

Hemming and hawing is lame.

Just say it, and make it clear.