A close friend told me a few months back that they were about to become grandparents and excited about this new life coming into their family. Naturally, I asked when the baby was due, and the answer was about eight months out. Doing the quick math, my first reaction was some concern, and honestly some judgment, about sharing news that early, given how many pregnancies don't make it to term.
I know where that reaction came from, because Jessica and I lost a baby and I remember the quiet sadness we shared, maybe wondering if there was something we could have done differently and a little bit wondering whether having children would be hard for us in ways we hadn't expected. The world calls that a responsible reason to wait, to hold the news until it's safer, and on the surface that sounds wise.
But I've carried that same instinct into more than pregnancies, a superstition that talking about a good thing before it's certain will put it at risk, or set expectations I can't meet, and underneath it is pride, because if I never say the business deal is close, the relationship might work, or the medical test might come back with good news, I never have to explain why it didn't. That's not wisdom. That's just protecting myself from having to be disappointed in front of people.
Loving each other the way a tribe is meant to means being honest about what's known and what isn't, because your tribesmen want to pray with you through the whole thing, not just show up once it's confirmed; and Philippians 4:6 tells us not to be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, to let our requests be made known to God, never written as advice for after you're sure.
So if you're sitting on a possible promotion, a pregnancy, a relationship, a role on the team, stop waiting until it's certain. Bring it to your tribe, and to your Savior.
Sheepdog