The story...
I expect that I should give credit for this "learning" to the person who showed me. However, somebody shared it with him and who knows where it originated.
The scenario, you ask for someone in the group to commit to completing an assignment. They respond that they'll "try" to have it done by next Monday. You take a dollar bill from your wallet and present it in front of them and you say: "try to take this dollar bill." They pull it out of your hand and you say "No, I said 'try' to take it out of my hand - you actually took it out of my hand." The receiver may say "huh?" and you repeat the exercise with them a few times before they internalize the idea. "Try" means that you may or may not accomplish the task and have made no commitment. Teams work best when people will to do what they say. I frequently facilitated meetings where people, who were tempted to "waffle" on a commitment, would change their mind when I merely reached for my wallet and they recalled the value of commitment.
I expect that the only church in town would be filled with people who represent the full community. And, each would be at a different stage of their lives. Together, they'd have all they need to work out the will of God for them, their church, and their community - trusting God with the outcomes. Each would grow working side by side towards a common aim. Rather than try, they'd work out their faith together in actualities. Each person safely in Christ and Christ working out good works through them.
Just for Today...
"My friend and I resolve that in the future we will try less, accept more, and let go of our impatience, self-criticism, and self-hatred. We take a deep breath and say, "Help me, God." Courage to Change (p. 71)
"Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor; for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up!" Ecclesiastics 4:9,10 (NASB)
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