I WONDER IF NIKE KNEW?

Can YOU stand? Today is Monday, September 10th and over the past week (and year) there have been several conversations focused on standing vs kneeling, and vice versa. What's interesting is how absolutely CONFIDENT people are in the 'rightness' of their opinions. It's quite amazing actually.

As I said, today is Monday. A day when many report to jobs they despise, to work with people they dislike, and complain about situations that  they are unwilling to work to change. And these are the precarious and deceptive positions from which most stand. Basing decisions on the latest memes and facebook post they've seen.  Listen, I respect the right of Americans to stand and the right to kneel. It's one of the many benefits of being an American.

I would like to ask a question, though... Are standing and kneeling polar opposites? Or are they to be done in tandem?

 I'd like to submit that 'standing' is more than a physical action, and encompasses more than social media would have us to discuss. As does kneeling.  In fact, the best stands come from a position of kneeling. The amazing part is Nike narrated this beautifully with their recent series of ads (whether you agree with them or not). Colin was making his stand before he started kneeling, but kneeling resulted in the goal of his stand being met- which was to have a conversation about the disparities of how law enforcement treated various groups.

When you have something that you care about deeply- be it family, a vision, a business- in order for you to stand for that something, somewhere there has been kneeling. In prayer, in fatigue, in defeat, in some posture that confirms the price of the stand. Some may say it even strengthens the stand. 

I think about my walk of faith, and the moments when I was so spent I had to kneel. Oftentimes to simply whisper, "God." because the pain, anguish and weight of something caused me to cry out for help. And in those moments, I could sense the hope refreshing and the vision refocusing and faith began to blow on embers that may have died had I not kneeled.  And as faith blows, I began to strengthen the knees and shake out the arms, and STAND. Even as I am kneeling.  How do you stand without the kneel?

To think of stand and kneel as polar opposites, or solely as a buzz word for injustice limits the power of the stand, and of the kneel.  They are not enemies, they are spiritual business partners.

Some of you will read this and only think of today's headlines. You will have missed the point. The connection between kneeling and standing is more about destiny that dicussion. What is your destiny? What is your why? What is your purpose? And when was the last time you knelt on behalf of it?

I wonder if Nike knew? If they knew what they were really tapping into?

LaSharyn 

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