Day 31:
I can tell you from writing this blog, to writing for the local paper (I had a column for one year following the tornado), to being a teacher, to being a coach, if you put yourself out there, you can expect push back from somewhere or someone. There will be personality issues, no matter what I say or write, somebody will not like it. There will be sincere disagreements from people who always disagree just to get discussion going. Finally, there will just be unhappy people that are resentful that you feel you can share your opinion or feel you can lead.
All of these disagreements from putting yourself out there can hurt. Dependent on your personality, it may hurt more than you would think, but be ready for it. I read one time once that every time you put your head up above mediocrity, there will be many people who will be willing to slam your head back down. What will amaze you the most is that those closest to you will be the ones most willing to slam you down. The reason? There are many but mostly because they know you. They know your past and your blemishes and sometimes have a hard time getting past those parts of your past.
Never forget that Jesus said in Mark 6:4 "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in in his own home." People from Nazareth were ready to throw Him off a cliff once he claimed that the scripture of The Messiah was being fulfilled in Him. That is something to consider, that Jesus's own people who knew him from his birth and his childhood were ready to kill him simply because of words he spoke.
Challenge: When you put yourself out there for criticism, I promise you it will come, do it any way.
