The Problem With Big Ideas — Plucking and Planting

The problem with big ideas is that they are held afloat by the often coercive and careless care of a single human. This same human, assuming he is indeed human, has only two eyes. Behind those two eyes he has but one brain. That single brain is fed by one set of lungs breathing in air from a particular place. The concern of this one human is to keep hold of this one idea and to keep others interested and occupied by their "big idea". Others will invest their time in labor to keeping this one idea rolling. By no fault of their own, these employees of the "big idea" may neglect their families and communities, they are only trying to serve something larger than themselves. If this "big idea" is successful, people will pat these laborers on the back for selflessly serving something larger than themselves and making such a lasting impact on the world. If this "big idea" fails they may retreat to their family and community for a time until the next "big idea" comes along. Somehow the reality of whether or not anyone is really making a difference is lost in the tension between success and failure. Success frequently becomes just being allowed to keep doing the work behind your "big idea" even if it has no positive impact. What is called failure may just be your "big idea" being put out of it's misery. Wendell Berry often speaks of the importance of humble and small beginnings and speaks out against the concept of "big ideas". Much of my thoughts on this matter are greatly impacted by his. The real danger with getting behind big ideas is that it takes away our responsibility for real involvement. I think our churches are guilty of trading in real, individual involvement for laboring behind a "big idea". Too often our church members are so exhausted from the support of a Pastor and his big idea that they don't have the time and energy to engage their community in any sort of effective way. The vision behind this "big idea" that everyone is scrambling to support or keep afloat, quite often comes from a very narrow place. What is seen as a big idea is not nearly large enough. There is nothing larger than fully realizing the way that our day to day lives can impact our community. The way that we get groceries and gas, the way that we pick-up and drop-off our children, how and what we eat, the way we treat waste and surplus, all of these things have the potential to change the lives of the people and places we are surrounded by and they are often the things that are neglected by our support of a single "big idea".

So what is our way forward? I realize that there can be ideas that are worth the support and service of a congregation or community but how do we avoid the pitfalls and potential damage from our "big ideas"? I'm still reflecting on that question but I would like to share a few conclusions that I have come to in my reflection. First, if a "big idea" is hatched out of the mind of an individual with little to no input from the community that it intends to serve, it should die before it inflicts inevitable unintended damage. Second, "big ideas" can exist in a healthy way but only if they are made up of the small, humble and simple ideas of co-laborers and the communities that the idea intends to serve. Third, the person holding the position of servant leader of a "big idea" must have an ear for correction. The danger of holding on to an idea much larger than yourself without the wise council of some people who care for you and the community, is too great. Many good people have fallen because they got too big for their britches. The moment you feel your spirit "rise up" when someone dares to question your path and your motives may be the moment you need to take a step back for a time. Lastly, always keep in mind that your "big idea" is never anything more than a collection of small actions and decisions. From the moment that you first dream this "big idea" and share it with a friend, to when you finally make choices and changes that serve something greater than you, realize your idea is nothing without small choice and change. Never lose the pulse of the community, the vision that got you started, or an ear for correction. Something big truly can survive and live well but only if starts and stays small.