Bold and Beautiful

Read: Galatians 6:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:57-58; Hebrews 6:10

Many of us have been praying for holy boldness during these last weeks. A boldness that isn't brash or flashy but is instead beautiful and sincere. This kind of boldness has as many hues as the colors of the changing leaves of fall. There isn't a one size fits all picture of how it looks in any given situation, but when a life displays it , it is beautiful to behold. With that in mind, may we look at three of the myriads of examples we could highlight? One from sixty years ago, one from 2016 and one from this year. Each one displays a unique and beautiful picture of boldness.

Let's begin by returning to 1965. That was the year that Coca-Cola wanted to sponsor a Christmas special; so, Charles Schulz was asked to write one quickly. He did just that, but what he created was not what the executives expected. For one thing, Schulz said no to a laugh track. He wanted sincerity. He also bucked the system by using real children's voices rather than adult actors. Another realistic touch that didn't thrill them, but the detail the executives were the most hesitant about was the reading of the Christmas story from Luke's account, Luke 2:8-14. The changing world opinion was the reason for their reticence. They thought there would surely be no appetite for such a serious and controversial thing as the reading from the scriptures. Charles Schulz was beautifully bold. If the scripture were removed, as was the desire of the executives, A Charlie Brown Christmas would not air. It was decided that the special would air as written but that it would never be seen again. The reaction of the public was totally opposite from what had been feared. It was watched by 50% of households on December 9, 1965 and continued to be aired on both CBS and ABC for decades afterwards. Schulz's boldness resulted in the proclamation of the Gospel. The real reason we celebrate Christmas at all. Jesus came to save sinners! Who knows how many lives were eternally changed because of Schulz's boldness? Jesus does, Romans 11:33!

Okay. Time to enter the time machine again. This time we're heading for 2016.

That was the year that 7-year-old Alejandro had once again sent up a helium balloon. Something he had done twice a year on his father's birthday and on the date of his father's death. Alejandro sent notes and pictures into heaven twice each year with the desire that they would reach his father whom he had been told was now living there.

Here are Alejandro's words from the letter he wrote in 2016: "Daddy, I wish you were here so we could have fun together. I wish you a Merry Christmas. I hope you tell God to give me those presents. I hope you are happy in heaven. If you are, then tell me. I love you, Alejandro." Enter Suzanne Womac Edwards and her husband who found that balloon and heart felt letter in their yard. It had landed in Monroe, Georgia which is twenty miles away from Alejandro's home with was in Oxford, Georgia. The words the little guy wrote were so intimate that they made Edwards cry. Should she do anything? She made the decision that she needed to try because of that last sentence. She wanted Alejandro to know that if his father could talk from heaven, he would say that he was happy. She didn't want him to fear that his father wasn't okay. She was beautifully bold, and she expressed it by sending a response to Alejandro's letter on Facebook. She hoped that his family would see it and that Alejandro would know that heaven was a good and happy place for his father. Alejandro's mother Catherine Bonilla Ramirez did read it and considered it to be a miracle for her little son. Suzanne's boldness provided comfort and blessings for a little boy and encouragement and comfort for his mom. Who knows if that boldness brought a ripple effect into other lives? Jesus knows, Psalm 139:1-2.

Okay, for this final example we don't have to travel back very far. We simply need to return to an incident that occurred earlier this year. It was the end of the girls' basketball season in Oklahoma City. The Academy of Classical Christian Studies basketball team was playing Apache High. The game came down to the last seconds, and the scoreboard showed that the Academy girls had won by one point. However, Academy coach Brendan King wasn't so sure. There had been a problem with the scoreboard during the game. Here are King's thoughts: "As soon as I walked out of the locker room, my stomach kind of turned into knots. And I said, 'I'm going to need to know if we really won this game or not,'" King told CBS News. So, he acted on those thoughts. He looked at every basket of the game, and he discovered that Academy had lost to Apache by one point. They didn't deserve the trophy. The rule is that once a final score is entered in the books after a game, it can't be changed, but Coach King had an idea. He told the girls that they could appeal their crowning as victors and give the trophy to Apache High. Everyone unanimously agreed They would do what was right. It meant a great deal to the Apache girls. One said that his gave her hope. There were still people who were willing to do the right thing. Coach King and his players were beautifully bold by showing integrity when they discovered that the other team had won. They could have told no one, but the coach modeled uprightness, and his players evidently learned from his actions; therefore, they also wanted to do what was right. Who knows how many people heard this story and were also emboldened to do what was right? Jesus knows, Isaiah 40:28.

When I was a child, I had a kaleidoscope. A little hand-held object that when shaken produced a view of different patterns and colors. That's what holy boldness does too. No two of us will display it in the same way. It depends on our experiences and personalities. Some boldness becomes publicly known, while other bold acts are only meant for one recipient. The Lord sees them all. He Who gives both the strength and opportunities deserves all the glory.

Lord, help us not to miss an opportunity to be bold when Your Holy Spirit prompts and enables us to do so.