It’s Nice Outside. Come Out And Play.

Do you want to build a snowman? This is the infamous question posed by Anna in the record-breaking Disney hit, Frozen. The inquiry was filled with desperation and a heartfelt plea from one sister to the other. Elsa had barricaded herself in her room, and in her deep longing to be with her, Anna extended the invitation to come out and play. When Elsa finally emerges from hiding to participate in her coronation, a series of events unfolds that leads her to embrace her superpowers and realize the full potential she has always been capable of. The beauty of her gift consumed the fear and apprehension that had held her back and kept her locked behind closed doors. 

So, what in the world does this have to do with you and me? Everything. The same invitation Anna extended to Elsa sits before us today. Do we want to build snowmen? I know I do. Anna and Elsa weren't into building any average old compacted snow being. Oh no, they built one that came to life—a walking, talking, breathing snowman. There's no argument. Olaf wasn't ordinary. Together, these sisters made the impossible possible and the never-before-seen, seen. That's the magic behind coming outside to play. That exact magic awaits those willing to come out from within their four walls, to let sunlight embrace their cheeks, and to take in a world beyond their barricades.

There's something about staring at the same walls surrounding us, isn't there? Day after day, they give you that view you have seen time and time again. You begin to memorize the locations of cracks, stains, and nail holes engraved within. You can tell the stories associated with each nook and constantly have them on replay. "Remember when." "That's how we've always done it." "We're more of a rinse and repeat culture." "Let's not reinvent the wheel." Or you find yourself satisfied just staring out the window, watching everyone else play, repurposing their fun as your own. The latest trends and what's working for others are automatically applied in your hiding place, without you having to think twice about their impact on those you serve. 

Maybe it isn't complacency or fear that has kept you locked up. Instead, there may be a hint of the poison I like to call arrogance permeating the air of your locked, tight room. You have breathed it in for so long that you no longer have the desire to see beyond your property line. You are already convinced that you are number one. You and your team are good at what you do. You have a couple of wins and awards on the shelf that have affirmed your spectacularness, and there's no need for fresh air. What you are inhaling works just fine for you, and there is no slow death on the way. Right...  

Both mindsets are dangerous and held by many who prefer the comfort of their fences versus daring to venture into the unknown around them. Without going outdoors, you miss out on untapped potential, overlook the root of your audience's needs, and fall behind what's next. Talking to yourselves may sound like an intelligent conversation when, in actuality, it's a repeated exchange among the familiar. Inside your corporate rooms or ministry halls are the routine and the usual. At times, you're able to put another color lipstick on it, but at the end of the day, it's still the same pig. Impact hasn't changed, reach is stagnant, and needs are static. You find yourself confused, pondering, and scratching your head for solutions.    

At times, you're able to put another color lipstick on it, but at the end of the day, it's still the same pig.

Go outside and play! New partnerships are awaiting you. Fresh ideas have been anticipating meeting you. Concepts eager to turn into flushed-out plans are overly excited to receive an invitation from you. Understanding has been waiting to provide you with deeper insight into the needs of those you serve. All you have to do is go hang out. Literally, this is your time to do so. Decide what you can do to break down the walls and demolish your comfort zone. 

Running around indoors will not get you to where you want to go. However, when you are willing to open the doors and connect with others on the other side of the threshold, there's no telling what is in store for you. Dare I say, it will be magical, sending you off into the impossible made possible and building anything but ordinary.