Part of my daily routine brings me past this sign.

It is a simple and straight-forward “KEEP OFF GRASS” sign.

It is easy to read, not too small, yet not too big to be obnoxious.

It is in good condition, not dilapidated.

It is installed firmly and doesn’t look like it will need maintenance for awhile.

Normally, signs and other parts of the scenery where you frequent tend to “disappear” from your field of vision.  They just blend in.

But as I strut across this sign, it catches my eye every time, even to this day.

Why you ask?  It is because of one important thing, and it’s not just about the sign’s direct-to-the-point message or the physical sign itself.   The reason is a bit larger than that. . .

The sign is installed in a place where there is no grass anywhere in sight!

I’m sure there was a time (like at the time of installation) where the sign made sense in that spot under the trees.  No one will argue that the sign itself isn’t well-constructed and well-intentioned and well-installed.  But it obviously has been some time since anyone has thought about why this sign is here in this spot.

What’s curious is that the landscapers come each week to groom out the weeds and tend the area carefully, working around the sign and just leaving it there as if it truly still belonged there.

I’ve watched as they don’t take notice or realize just how silly it looks to have a sign so irrelevant to its surroundings.  They have just gone blind to the thing that is the physical centerpiece of the area they are responsible for.

It is a great reminder for the programs, protocols and people that we place strategically within our ministry.  Are they still doing something which just doesn’t make sense any more?  When was the last time you re-thought things through from the ground-up?    What gaps or disconnects exist that you aren’t aware of or ignore about simply because it’s not important enough for other people to proactively tell you about them?  Have you gone blind to some of the most obvious moving parts of your ministry that are just flat-out irrelevant?

Do you have any signs that just aren’t telling…anymore?