Since Billy Graham's passing, I've been thinking a lot about my beliefs. That man touched countless lives with his words and the truth he preached. He talked the talk and he walked the walk. And he was never ashamed to speak out in boldness to convey the love of a heavenly Father that had captivated his own heart. He wanted to share this good news with everyone he met and he did just that. In front of a few, in front of just one, in front of millions, in front of presidents and monarchies and all different types of government, he spoke up and shared what he believed.
But Billy Graham was in the faith business. He was a pastor, so preaching was what he did all day every day.
But what does this mean for you and me? For people who likely will never be in front of those kinds of crowds or behind that kind of pulpit? How do we share the same conviction if we never have a preacher's platform to stand on?
The other day I was in spin class and the instructor was one of my absolute favorites. She's the kind of teacher that just knows how to bring it. She knows how to push everyone in her class to another level, not because she's yelling and screaming at you while she walks around the class... no, no, she's right there beside you on her own bike, pushing herself to that next level. And people adore her for it. Her classes are always packed and her music is always on point.
On Monday morning in class we were all spinning our legs off. Most of the music consisted of a healthy blend of fast paced hip hop, some great old school remixes, and a few one offs here and there that make you want to peddle even faster. About half way through, I heard a song come on that was not your typical cycling song. But it was good, really good. The beat and the pace of the song were lifting in some strange way. As I listened to the words, I realized the song was a worship song. It wasn't some remixed version of Amazing Grace nor did it scream Jesus, Jesus, Jesus...but it was about hope. It was about lifting your head, and it encouraged you to keep fighting your fight.
It might sound crazy, but I swear the energy in the room shifted during that song. Because as I looked around, we were all fighting to look up in life, regardless if you were aware of the words of that worship song or not.
After class, I asked the instructor about it. She said she loves slipping in worship songs in her workouts. Because people are listening. The words to those work out songs matter. Her students matter to her. And when she's up there on her bike, leading those classes, she is worshiping her Jesus loving heart out. And she's preaching too. She knows her audience, she knows she's got their attention for 55 minutes, and even if it is only for one song, she is going to impart a message of hope and restoration over their lives.
There's an art to figuring out how to blend your beliefs and your business when you work in the marketplace. I've seen it done wrong and I've seen it done right-I'm sure you have too.
As I left that spin class, I started thinking about Billy Graham again. I started thinking about the fact there are countless Billy Graham's out there who are owning their space, claiming their spot, and preaching their hearts out. It just might not be from behind a pulpit. Instead it might be from a spin bike, a barista bar, an office desk, a classroom, a keyboard, an exam table, an operating room, or anything and everything in between.
Billy Graham once said: "We are the Bibles the world is reading; we are the creeds the world is needing; we are the sermons the world is heeding."
Whatever it is you do, know that you have a post to man. You have a platform to preach from. You have the opportunity to learn how to blend your beliefs in your business in a unique way that no one else can. And you've been called to figure out how to preach your heart out exactly where you are. You can do it.