Don't Be a Jabroni...

In the late 90's and through the early 2000's, the WWE boasted what is called the "Attitude" era. The stars of this era were unforgettably brash, full of charisma. So much so, that the WWF survived a ruling that barred the company from ever using the acronym again. This ruling was retro-active and even vintage footage has been re-branded as WWE. The "Attitude" era was so strong that there were numerous superstars and they all got good tv time. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin broke out from his blonde bombshell days, Rocky Maivia joined the ranks of the "Nation of Domination", the wrestling world's version of the black empowerment and Hunter Hurst Hemsley morphed into "Triple H". Shawn Michaels broke into stardom, away from feuds...he was a stand alone star but partnered with "Triple-H" to form Degeneration-X. 

Ok, ok...you get the storylines and names. If not, feel free to visit the WWE and get all caught up! It's hard to tell who the biggest star of the "Attitude" era was. Without a doubt, the greatest heel (bad guy) was Triple H, but "Stone Cold" and "The Rock" were the faces of the federation. "The Rock" was a master of the mic and could adlib and improvise better than most of the roster. While there were a number of one liners and zingers from the second generation superstar, one that comes to my mind today is: "Know Your Role".

While The Rock used the saying to silence the crowd, announcers and challengers, I want to use it to encourage you! Yep...this morning when I got up, I felt the burden of agents of change. I felt the heaviness that comes with feeling unwanted, unappreciated and being taken for granted. I heard the conversation that said "they're better off without me, I should just leave." But, don't! It's never comfortable as an agent of change and you'll never be understood so long as your role is to upset the current norm. There are some of us God uses to do just that, our only reason for being some of the places we are is to initiate change. 

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12

The only way to accomplish your job as an agent of change is to be duty-minded! Otherwise, the discouragement of the very people you are sent to affect will drive you away! What violence is this that the Kingdom "suffereth"? This "violence" is not physical but an insatiable determination to put it in their grasp. It goes beyond willpower. There is an old story of an old farmer who couldn't move his ox. After trying his ox gourd and other wisdom of the field, someone yelled out: "why don't you use your willpower?" To which the farmer replied, "ain't nothing stronger than ain't power!" This "ain't power" is what ought to drive us not to quit, but to as the Apostle Paul said to "be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord..."

So to you change agent, hang on in there! John the Baptist had one assignment and worked to carry it out and so must you. So must we! I feel your pain and I hear your frustration, but never quit, hang on in there and don't be a jabroni, KNOW YOUR ROLE!!!