Matthew 10:14 – "Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words–go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet."
Throughout the last few years I’ve learned some hard lessons about when it’s appropriate to "shake the dust" and move on. I used to have a pretty good sense to when I was not being well-received, but I fear that the skill is diminishing and in many ways I don’t recognize just how obsolete I became.
One of the hardest things is to be in a situation where you think you’re fighting the good fight, advocating for what is right. It grows frustrating when you feel you’ve gained momentum and are justified in your cause. I’ve always prided myself on having the pulse of the people I represent.
Then comes the revelation – that you really have no idea just how detached you are, just how out of touch you’ve become. This whole time you thought you were going to bat for the team, and instead you’ve taken a fastball right to the back – thrown under the bus. In that moment everything is turned upside down.
When did I lose touch? What was the exact moment when people stopped receiving me? What has become of me? Have I grown that out of touch that I’m completely obsolete? Have I worn out my welcome that my objections have been reduced to mere white noise that must be filtered out? The righteous part of me believes that I speaking for those who need the most representation. I am gifted with an analytical mind and pride myself in calculating all of the possible scenarios of a decision, accurately representing all of the possible consequences. Have I lost this gift, or is it the fact that people are too inconvenienced by what I have to say? Am I even relevant?
Last week has brought powerful revelations into the light. As I find myself asking the question "Where am I called?", the answer still remains vague and unknown. One thing is affirmed and becoming clear: where I am not being called. I know the time has come to "shake the dust" and move on. I am spent, I am exhausted and I fear that my recent efforts have been spent in vain.