(originally posted 2/3/08)
Have you ever seen the movie Legally Blonde 2? Well, if you haven’t…you
should. The main character is Elle Woods. A bubbly stereotypical
Sorority sister with platinum blonde hair and perfectly manicured nails
graduates from law school, to the surprise of ALL who know her, and
moves to Washington D.C. to take on Capital Hill in the attempt to pass a
bill to stop cosmetic testing on animals. When she first arrives in
Washington she is assigned to work in a specific office for a specific
Congresswoman. The other interns she works with on a daily basis quickly
get annoyed with her over-the-top, bubbly personality and
unconventional way of doing things. Her so-called colleagues try to
bring her down by personally insulting her and making fun of her behind
her back. They believe in the tried and true way of politics…going “by
the book” as they say. One character in particular, Grace, is especially
mean to Elle. She feels threatened by Elle’s catchy tactics and fresh
perspective. Both Elle and Grace are attempting to get their own bills
passed. Elle’s, of course, is the animal testing bill and Grace is after
a homeowner’s incentive bill. When Elle gets a meeting with the
Congressman she needs to persuade to make headway on her bill long
before Grace does on her own bill, Grace confronts Elle and tells her,
basically, to back off and stop trying to get through life on a good
smile and pink lip gloss and instead give in to the way that has made
this country run for over 200 years. This makes Elle a bit sad, but
instead of letting Grace bring her down she allows Grace’s comments to
give her the extra drive she needs to see her bill pass! The main
difference between Grace and Elle is Grace plays by the “rules” and Elle
paves her own way…a new path!
Lesson Learned? We are this way with
Christianity. Grace represents a Christian who is “stuck in their
ways”…someone who can’t see, or make room for, change in the church or
in methods of reaching the lost. Elle, on the other hand, is a new
convert or a Christian who is on fire! She is so excited and passionate
about what she is doing and her ultimate goal that she will stop at
nothing to see it come true…even if that means using unconventional
tactics and things never seen before in order to get that done. Elle is a
“hot pink sweater set” in a sea of dull, black and grey suits and ties.
We should be the same way. Why not stand out? Why not be the Christian
who is so over the top excited to share what we have that we don’t
follow the “rules” to make it known? Why not be “hot pink” in a dark
world? Elle also got things done by not signing up on a waiting list to
see the important people. Instead she sought them out in their real
world. She found Congresswomen at the salon and talked them into meeting
with her, she found tough Congressmen at the dog park and spoke to them
from her heart…she used relationships to get what she wanted and SO CAN
WE!!! Get out there where the people are instead of signing up and
waiting for them to come to us! It may take an extra smile and an extra
“walk through the dog park” but in the end it’ll produce faster and
longer lasting results!! Taking this lesson a step further, and maybe
even making it more relevant to more people, if you find yourself stuck
in the dull gray world of Christianity and aren’t sure where to go
next…put on some hot pink lip gloss and dye your hair platinum blonde.
Okay…maybe not literally, but what I mean is, get involved in something
new. Fall in love with the Lord and with ministry all over again. Carve your own
path and your own way of witnessing into the world and go for it! And
DON’T let those still stuck in their dull grey suits bring you down. If
need be, separate yourself, smile, sing, even gallop through your day!
Be a little goofy and a little bubbly and a little giggly even…bring joy
back to your life and to your ministry!!! You’ll have a better day for
it and so will all those who come in contact with you!
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