Whatever it Takes is a very moving song performed by the group, Lighthouse. I took a few minutes to watch the music video of this song earlier this week. It includes some pretty compelling images. I recommend it.

I ask myself that very question periodically. Am I willing to do whatever it takes? Specifically am I willing to do whatever it takes in every important relationship in which God has entrusted me? It seems that I often come up with a plethora of yes but answers.

Of course I would be willing to do whatever it takes if the other person was not such a jerk. I am more than eager to go the extra mile, but the other party is ungrateful and uncaring. I would do whatever it takes, but I struggle with trust. I don’t want to get burned.

Several years ago a member of the church I was serving at the time was hospitalized. It is standard operating procedure for the minister to go visit and pray with a person under such circumstances. I did not want to go. In fact I refused to go see this person. This particular church member was mean spirited, divisive, and no doubt a direct descendant of Attila the Hun.

I made the mistake of informing Jan of my intent to boycott the hospital that day. She told me that I needed to go see this lady. I crossed my arms, dug in my heels and put on a defiant look on my face. I will not go… You will go, she said. You will go because of who you are and not because of whom the person happens to be. The other person’s character has nothing to do with your decision, she said. And then she went on to say something about acting like Jesus. How could I argue with that? Why did she have to introduce Jesus into the conversation? My hospital boycott was as short lived as an angry four year olds hunger strike.

I went to the hospital that afternoon. I was pleasant. I smiled. I carried on a very nice conversation. I left knowing that I had done whatever it takes to promote good will. I would love to say that the hospital visit triggered some kind of impressive transformation on the part of the person in question, but that is not true.

I no longer live in that community, but as far as I know the lady I visited is as belligerent and divisive as ever. It really is sad, when you think about it. I am quite certain a good number of people have done whatever it takes in building relational bridges to her. Maybe someday it will make a difference.

The music video of this song is worth a look. I strongly recommend that you watch it on http://www.youtube.com/

In the mean time, be reminded that yes but and whatever it takes can’t be used in the same sentence. I learned that a few years ago, as I drove up to the entrance of the hospital. I strongly suspect I will need to learn that lesson again. Are you willing to do whatever it takes today?