Initiative In Faith

vs. idleness

Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do it

To practice Initiative, I will:

• contribute to the success of the whole team
• be part of the solution rather than the problem
• do what is right before being asked
• look for ways to help others
• not procrastinate

Initiative in Faith
By Rev. Dr. Roger Braun, Retired Methodist Minister, guest columnist

In order to write about the character of Initiative, allow me to give an example from my own life. The military is like all life, it is what you make of it. During my three years in the U. S. Army there was an opportunity that I took to improve myself. At the Post Education Office there were offered ways to gain college credits. I often went there to take college-level exams. The Education Office gave me books to study, a place to take the tests, and offered guidance to achieve my goals. The outcome was that after three years of serving in the Armed Forces, I left with two years of college credits. No one came to me and made me do this. It was up to me to find out what was available, set aside the time, and create my own desire to complete it. It was up to me to provide the initiative. I could have sat back and done my military job, and that was all. It took initiative on my part to gain those college credits.

Here is another story of Initiative that has eternal significance. In the Bible, it is written in The Letter to the Romans, chapter 5, verse 8: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This means that people are so completely separated from God that people can do nothing on their own to save themselves, Therefor, God took the Initiative and sent a Savior for us. Since God took the initiative then we have hope, love, and oneness with God along with eternal life. Initiative is one of God’s great characteristics and it is in you also to use and improve yourself.