First Drafts Are Dangerous
On a scale from 1-10, how good would you say you are at drawing? 3? 8? What’s the story behind why you chose that number? Maybe, like most of us, when you were young someone asked you to draw something and you gave it a try. Then you, or someone else, looked at what you drew and that was the day you decided that when it comes to drawing you’re a 4, or a 9, or a 2. And most likely that number stuck with you. The same thing happens with sports, math, and public speaking. We give things a try, that try is evaluated by us or someone else and that number sticks and shapes the concept we have of ourselves and others.
It all feels like a natural process of discovering your gifts, but in reality, it’s a very limiting and dangerous way to discover your gifts. The reason why is because the gifts that God has given us don’t always show up on our first try, our first draft.
Take a look at this photo of a flower -
Now look at this drawing of that flower by a 1st grader
Unless you’re that student's half-blind mother, you will most likely agree that it’s not very good. (Most likely the student knows it too!) At the moment when a student tries something like drawing for the first time, there are two paths. The common path is for the student to look at their drawing, compare it to others around them, and make a possible lifelong decision as to whether or not they are good at drawing. The second path is for someone to remind the student that every skill and talent from God needs to be developed. That person could then provide helpful feedback and encourage them to try it again using what they learned.
Let’s take a look at the second process in action -
The feedback -
The second draft with a little more constructive feedback
The Third draft
And, a drum roll please…
The Final Draft!!
It’s legitimately beautiful, isn’t it? And, it’s hard to believe that the same student did each of them.
God has a beautiful work He wants to do through each and every one of us. Today our students are discovering they can learn to draw, soon they will discover that they can learn to lead and shape the world around them. It will not be a tidy process, many drafts will be required. But this is the work that God is calling us to at Doulos - to unlock and unleash the unique potential He has placed inside each of our students and staff so that they can be part of the redemptive work He is doing in the Dominican Republic. v