CONFRONTATION

People subscribe to mantras and quote pithy sayings by which to live. I’m no different.

Joshua 1:9

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁹Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Where I grew up, confrontation was a constant whether it was verbal or potentially physical. I remember being afraid to fight and yet thinking that fighting was normative. What an oxymoron. In the case of the quotation I use as a banner, the recipient of the information being spoken is Joshua, son of Nun. He is situated for confrontation, even destined for it. The rub is that his mentor Moses is dead. And this in and of itself is a confrontation with many truths. Imagine following a leader whom you trusted, a leader who knew how to protect droves of people, a leader whom you were comfortable serving only to have him die and hear the words, “arise and take his place…”

In the 1980s, I feared fighting because I feared pain. But it’s more likely that the real fear was of having to live differently after combat. With victory comes a new set of rules by which to live. With valiant defeat comes the same set of rules. It could be that we fear the transition brought about through confrontation because it compels us to think differently. Change is uncomfortable for us all but mentoring is pointless if it doesn’t lead the mentee or protege into significant confrontation. I’m not sure if I ever thought of myself as a Joshua but I’m certain we have his same impetus. His life belonged to a purpose bigger than himself and his ability to remember that truth made confrontation far less of a bully. The tough conversation, the willingness to correct others who hurt the team and today’s nemeses are all trumped by a greater allegiance you have but just haven’t acknowledged. Watch what happens to fear of confrontation when you remember why it is you go to war in the first place. God speed.