It is a challenge being a prophetic voice. Calling people to change and recognising that while many might be interested in listening to the theory, reality is that we usually don’t! That is why the role of prophet can be a very hard, challenging and fairly often a disappointing one.

As one of those who have moments of knowing how old Isaiah, Jeremiah and friends must have felt ages back, I have been able to build in a kind of defence mechanism that allows me to – most of the time – remain standing.

By nature I am not an optimist. Indeed I tend toward being something of a melancholy type. I would not put myself at the pessimist end of the scale but consider myself more of a realist. However, I have developed over the years a mind set that sees a glass as being half full rather than half empty.

I have a friend who calls me the king of spin! I think that it is meant as a compliment and I certainly take it that way. There are more than enough available to tell you what is wrong and that this or that won’t work, so I choose to talk things up rather than down. I get encouragement out of quite small things that others may not see as significant. I would rather give permission and help pick up the pieces later than withhold it and crush someone’s spirit.

My model of course is Jesus. Not the kid’s picture book type guy that way too many adults believe in today; but the REAL one you find in even a passing consideration of the Scriptures. Years ago the American poet Robert Frost (1874-1963) wrote:

‘Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.’

F. Scott Peck wrote a brilliant book called ‘The Road Less Travelled.’ Of course Jesus took that road long before either Mr Frost or Mr Peck.

Jesus saw hope in those whom others ignored and oppressed. He spoke of faith as being like that of a child. The disciples were concerned about keeping things tight around the Jesus ‘gang’ while Jesus had more of a ‘let things happen and we will see’ type of ministry. When his disciples came back from a successful time of ministry Jesus talked it up even more by saying, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.’

Jesus had a habit of changing people’s names! He met a guy called Simon and nicknamed him Rocky, long before Sly Stallone! Simon was a bit of an impulsive guy; but Jesus saw a boulder in there somewhere, so dubbed him ‘Cephas’ – or Peter - translated ‘The Rock. The brothers James and John he called ‘Boanerges’ – sons of Thunder! The Rock went on to become the first and possibly greatest apostle. One of those Sons of Thunder was an early martyr when King Herod put James to death by the sword and John had such a fire burning for Christ that no one could put it out. Even as an old man they had to deport him to the Island of Patmos, where he wrote the last book of the Bible!

It wasn’t all wins for Jesus. As the reality of his claims began to bite many took a step back: ‘Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him.’ John 6:66 Of course we all know the Judas story at the end and Peter’s time of denial. In fact at the cross it seems that only John had seen the journey through. Even then Jesus couldn’t help himself and made sure that his mother was taken care of and asked forgiveness of those who had brought him to this place. It’s called grace and I love it!

Years ago I was at a church in Kyabram, Victoria and the preacher spoke from Jeremiah 20. One verse galvanised me and has been my prophetic inspiration ever since:

‘If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” then within me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.’ Jeremiah 20:9

This occurred not long after I chose to take the road less travelled and for me it has made all the difference.