Tonight Bill Clinton said, “People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power.”
This really speaks to me as it is one of my own personal philosophies. It guides how I behave and what I share about my feelings around topics like politics and religion. When I was a child my parents tried to raise me as a Baptist. I went to Sunday school while they went to “big people” church. Eventually, I convinced them to take me out of Sunday school and let me accompany them to “big people” church. The reason is because I thought the Sunday school people were crazy. They kept talking about things I should feel but I never did.
For better or for worse that experience has framed my relationship with the church and with people of the church. Hypocrisy was more the rule than the exception. I would hear a lot on Sunday about how people were suppose to behave and believe. But then during the rest of the week I’d see how they really acted and really believed.
Eventually I had no choice but to turn my back on the church. I can’t pretend to believe in something that isn’t real. Something that pretends to be what it isn’t. That’s not authority to me. That’s not leadership to me.
It took a long time but eventually I found the leadership, the guidance I was seeking. And now it guides my life in perfect harmony with the idea that example is stronger than words. And it has nothing to do with the christian church.
To those folks out there that like to talk about how great their religion is I say, “really!? show me!” Don’t talk about it. Do it. Live it. Your example will shine brighter than your words.