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I have met many prophetic scribes who have been pigeonholed.
To be pigeonholed is to be placed in a definitive box full of labels you can’t escape. Everyone around you can only “see you” from that boxed in view. This is easy to understand when we think about the role of actors in plays, movies, and skits. There are many in our history who have found themselves typecast to certain roles.
Well, it can happen in all areas of scribal ministry.
I barely escaped being pigeonholed as a poet early in my ministry. I woke up one day and realized the only time people called me “to speak” was to present a poem a ministry event, funeral, anniversary celebration, or wedding. Nothing is wrong with this, but if it is all you are doing and you know there are additional things you have to offer it can be a problem. I knew I had to expand my horizon and reveal my other meaningful contributions.
I was feeling the call to preach.
I was feeling the pressure to mentor and guide others.
I was longing to hold conferences on topics other than scribal ministry.
There was a lot in me that I could “feel” I needed to bring forth. It took me a while to figure out “the how,” but I realized the problem was not with the people “pigeonholing me,” but with how I was presenting myself. If you’re having this problem as a poet, spoken word artist, musician, visual artist, psalmist, etc., I believe it can be turned around with spirit-led guidance, wisdom, and patience.
First, be mindful that people respond to whom you present to them. I was the person who put MYSELF out there as a poet available for events. The people simply responded to what I placed on display all the time.
Secondly, who you believe you are is projected or presented to others. People tend to rehearse the narrative we present. So, I had to decide to expand that view in firmness, strength, and humility.
Next, I needed to create an independent space for revealing the broader me. For example, I began holding workshops, conferences, and events that broadened the horizon of my contributions before others. It took time, but I was able to present the totality of who I was to people and the “poet” persona became “one” of many contributions – not the only contribution.
A part of my journey was distancing myself from environments that clung to and pulled on what is familiar. Yes, I know this is tough. The bottom line, however, is that sometimes our environment won’t allow us to stretch. Why? Well, sometimes people prefer the old image of you that was presented. As a result, change within that environment can become extremely difficult if not impossible.
I made the decision to shift my environment, develop a new audience, and spread my wings in a different direction. I needed to carve handgrips in the pigeonhole I created and dig myself out at all costs. This wasn’t about loyalty to people, but about fulfilling my greatest potential. As a result, I met new people, embraced fresh opportunities, and built relationships that continue to expand my growth.
It is so easy to fall into a pigeonhole whether it is in writing genres, music, acting roles, administrative functions, teaching streams, or other efforts. I had to ask myself: Would I rather stay in a hole and limit my potential or will I pursue being who I fully am?
I chose the latter. I’m here to encourage you, prophetic scribes, to do the same.
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