Day 3—Friday, February 20

Matthew 10:16 (The Message)

Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as shrewd as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.

I tend to move silently around the house, a habit I developed back in high school, where for some reason I started walking softly and never stopped. This really annoys Katelyn. Since we don’t have a dog anymore to alert her, she’s often startled because she doesn’t hear me approach and has no warning that I’m nearby.

Even though I insist that I don’t mean to sneak up on her, if I’m honest, there’s a part of me that enjoys being unnoticed. If I could pick any superpower, invisibility would be my top choice, well above super strength or flying, because I genuinely like blending in with my surroundings. This preference shows up in my everyday life: I wear simple, unremarkable clothes, keep my voice low in public, and avoid putting bumper stickers on my car that might make it stand out. One of my favorite scenes is from the Andy Griffith Show episode “Barney and the Choir.” In it, the talented bass, Glen, slips away to sing a solo off-stage so that no one knows it’s him, while Barney stands front and center with a dead microphone, convinced he’s the one everyone hears. That image resonates with me. I admire the quiet satisfaction of contributing without seeking recognition.

At first, this scripture stood out to me because I could easily relate to the idea of being like a sheep, staying out of the spotlight and not attracting attention, but I realized I was focusing on just one aspect of the verse and missing the bigger picture. Jesus isn’t simply encouraging his followers to be invisible or anonymous, he’s preparing them for the challenges they’ll face as they carry out his mission. He warns that being his disciple will bring opposition and even persecution from others. His instruction to be “like sheep” means responding to hardship with gentleness and humility, not with retaliation, and being willing to move on to the next opportunity to serve rather than fighting back.

So, what Jesus asks isn’t the quiet, undisturbed anonymity I naturally seek. Instead, he is telling us that truly living out God’s work will inevitably draw attention and sometimes that means facing criticism or worse. As we look around and see people targeted for reasons like their race, gender, or political beliefs, and as we stand up for them or work on their behalf, we may be able to stay anonymous for a while. But eventually, doing God’s will means we, too, may face hardship or persecution. The challenge is to be prepared for that, to remain gentle and steadfast, even when it would be easier to disappear.

As we reflect on what it means to move through the world with humility and courage, embracing both gentleness and strength in the face of challenge, let us draw encouragement and direction in this prayer from South African writer and anti-apartheid activist Alan Paton:

O Lord,

open my eyes that I may see the needs of others;

open my ears that I may hear their cries;

open my heart so that they need not be without succor;

Let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong,

nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich.

Show me where love and hope and faith are needed,

and use me to bring them to those places.

And so open my eyes and my ears

that I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for thee.

Amen.

-Jason Burton