Thrive & FlourishSample

Choose Ownership

Fear, lack of trust, pessimism, indifference, escapism, despair and hopelessness can all hinder us from taking positive decisions, actions and responsibility for our lives, our communities and our world. Thankfully, however we may be feeling today, we can all draw inspiration and strength from stories where others have gone before us. 

Nehemiah’s story is a great example of taking ownership. A person of deep conviction and compassion, he is Instrumental in rebuilding and re-establishing the walls of Jerusalem in the 5th century BC. He brought life and hope to a people in despair. He grew into this sense of ownership and responsibility through his experiences of life. His position as cupbearer may seem to bear little significance today, yet God had positioned him as a high official in the King’s court. The King entrusted his life to Nehemiah, the person who would taste the King’s food and drink to ensure that it was not poisoned. Nehemiah was the most trusted man in the kingdom; he had access to the King like no one else. 

Nehemiah was compassionate. He took ownership and responsibility for a task he wasn’t necessarily qualified to undertake and we should be reminded that he was a volunteer! He cared enough to be vulnerable and weep for his people and his city; to pray; to sensitively hear from God. He wept because to him Jerusalem was a sacred site…it held God’s name and was therefore a place of value and worth. Remarkably, as the people were encouraged to take ownership themselves, the task of re-building was completed in only 52 days! 

For many of us, where we live holds similar 'sacredness" and value. Ownership is about taking personal responsibility and accountability for my actions, enabling and empowering people to become change-makers within their own lives, their communities and their nations.  Where ownership exists, people work together and cooperate. Each of us can look for opportunities to take responsibility today, whether it be playing our part in caring for creation and renewing our world, or whether it be purely a much more simple step such as getting up, washing and dressing ourselves.  

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you love me and truly knows me by name, character and personality. Thank you that I can draw strength from that today as I choose to take responsibility for my thoughts, feelings and, actions.