Goals Spiritualized

Goals often block our potential. Take basketball for example.  Shooting at the wrong basket (goal) will not only make you feel silly but may cost you the game. Unmet goals or goals attained without the expected satisfaction cause us to feel confused - even guilty, leading us to spiritualize our uncomfortable and often unexpected feelings by impulsively creating new goals or adding new projects to give this discomfort the appearance of being more "Christian" like.

Striving toward greater goal-driven heights often reveals a pervasive lack of forgiveness toward others and ourselves. Much of what drives us is sustained by this unsatisfying guilt, which is a powerful, motivating force that works violently against the peace given me from simple obedience out of faith. Romans 1:5

As this struggle intensifies, so does my struggle with impatience. Yet as I learn to listen intently, my impatience increasingly turns into impatient prayers for opportunities to forgive and to extend the grace I've been given. Proverbs 16:8

Many projects or kind deeds performed out of this lack of peace and unforgiveness have been performed out of this spiritualized confusion . Many have done great things they were not led to do because redemptive grace was refused while being busily committed to goals driven by guilt.

May we stop the guilt-driven "do-gooder" spiritualizing and simply be forgivenly led through the goal making process so that potential is unlocked and unlimited. Philippians 4:13

Intuitive Imagination

Someone I had just met by phone asked me to watch the movie Flicka starring Tim McGraw. She identified, as did Katy the cowgirl in the movie, with the free and untamed, yet deeply aware and sensitive Mustang that she named Flicka . After our three hour phone call, I rented the movie and watched it that night. In a follow-up e-mail I mentioned that our phone call revealed that she has an intuitive imagination that many lose due to wounds, shattered expectations, or heartbreak from their youth. Not surprisingly, there was a great example from a scene in the movie she recommended.

When Katy enters the corral for the second secretive late night attempt to approach Flicka, she invites the Mustang to gently come to her by extending her hand with an apple. After the horse slowly approaches her and sees that it's safe, he eats it. She then says " One is enough for now" and disappears back into her house.

She intuitively knew that for the intimacy to grow between Flicka and her, that the wild horse couldn't handle more than one apple at that point without the horse losing focus on who not only was in control now, but also who had the power to meet a deeper hunger. The wild horse's timely willingness to take the risk of vulnerability in spite of a powerful self will that could have done otherwise is representative of intuitive imagination. Jeremiah 31:18

The prayers in Scripture about this restoration of the sense of wonder into our redemptive life story of wild abandonment are found in Psalm 119:18, and Psalm 90:14-17.

This inspired or intuitive imagination keeps one sane in the middle of chaos, yet does not prevent us from surprise or being caught off guard. I wrote about this in a poem previously posted.

A Sane Imagination, A New Creation

A sane imagination, a new creation.

Tempered action from shattered expectations.

Perservering, conscience no longer searing.

Courageous without domineering.

Silently, while speaking,

praying and seeking,

listening without freaking,

stillness, door creaking.

Who entered into my room

without permission so soon?

My heart? Don’t bother!

Who’s there?

Abba Father? 

Psalm 32:8-9

Collateral Damage

It's stunning how much good that I see being done by leaders in organizations. Yet at the same time, much unnecessary collateral damage is also done to many of the relationships involved. Proverbs 18:23 Systems must be set up not only to increase productivity but to define the rules and boundaries to play by just as in sports. However, without the leaders willing to build community within these systems many are left bleeding in the streets even though there may be a paycheck.

How often untrained leaders or leaders ruled by greed or emotion miss the great opportunities of seizing the moment given them to serve the needs of their followers or employees for healing and spiritual growth. 2 Timothy 3:1-9

Excuses of "It's just business", "I don't have to hold their hand", or "Just let me do my job" hinder my inspiration to be more than I am at any given moment.

Serve others . Yet do it by faith, not efficiency. Luke 17:5-10

Black and Blue Collar Leadership

Leading others to lay one brick at a time while simultaneously envisioning the cathedral being built is my idea of a wise and nurturing scholar with a blue collar.

The term scholar, as used above, is not limited to an academician though it could be. It speaks of the giftedness of an individual's leadership – scholarship potential leadership – similar to scholarship athletes and honor students.

Risk for the leader begins when he takes this "cathedral" like vision of community in a competitive world from the imagination to action. For others to envision his vision they must see their own vision and how their self-interest aligns with the greater corporate one.

This ability to lead others to envision corporately as an organization, institution, or family comes from the leader's powerful, yet beautifully simple language of hope. His own uniquely inspired communications will uplift the spirit in others through affirmation in the strength of his own willingness to serve this greater vision.

Authoritative tenderness. 1 Thessalonians 2:3-12

Picture in Picture Leadership

One of the great risks in leadership is not seeing the whole picture. At any point in time there are potentially two conflicting issues going on - the bigger picture issue and the circumstantial, momentary issues within the bigger picture.  For example we can get so caught up in the job at hand that we loose sight of the purpose of our work.  While perfect vision is not required, undistracted quietness in our vision is essential to keep hold of and not lose sight of the bigger picture. Isaiah 30:15 The same principle holds true in our personal lives.  We need this elastic and unifying ability to look intently at life issues and encourage healing action rather than merely correcting and controlling behavior. It's a freedom to excell without the chronic defensiveness that prevents serving others with others as part of a team. James 1:25-27

I make every effort to analyse an issue using concious logic until I reach a point of freedom from the analysis where I'm led to open up to intuitive, if not counterintuitive insight. My "inspired" logic evolves into action based on furthering the bigger picture while acting in the immediate moment. Hosea 14:8-9

I'm stopped short of the boastful one-man-show tendency that whispers the lie that by failing to rely solely on my logic I'm putting my brain in my back pocket. God gave me a brain. Therefore, I must use it! Right? It can be both terrifying and humbling to restrain my manipulative, intellect-driven ability which acts, skillfully, based on past known or seen experience without envisioning purpose driven reasoning.  1 Chronicles 14:13-17

The devil is not the one in the details, but the one whispering distractions in the bigger and smaller pictures. I Chronicles 28:19

Seek first Christ driven reasoning. Isaiah 1:18

Golden Calves

It's difficult to distinguish in our culture between marketing vs. sharing the Gospel. We live in an economy driven by consumption with few obstacles to immediate gratification. Therefore it seems natural to create a marketing-driven church since we have a clear example in scripture. Exodus 32:1-6  This is perpetuated through the culturally distorted use of our language sacrificing  praise on the altar of advertising. Words matter when truth is involved. Hosea 14:2

Leading the Follower

A common leadership failure is a leader’s unwillingness to clearly communicate to followers that they are both wanted and needed. Maintaining long term followers is difficult if leadership refuses to create the environment for communicating this concept. An admission that followers are needed reveals a leader’s vulnerability. Flattery is a mask used to deflect words like “want”, and criticism is a weapon used to arrest the use of the word “need”.  Many leaders see their role as a power play rather than an empowering one. A leader’s enlarged ego causes him to believe his followers are privileged to have him as a leader. The reality is he should see himself as privileged and honored to lead those followers. In the business world for example, an entire industry has developed dedicated solely to providing temporary workers to fill important roles for companies. Utilizing this service enables a leader, hiding under the justification of lower employment costs, to accomplish his goals while avoiding any sense of commitment to or real communication with his followers. Some full-time employees are often treated like temps to cover the leader’s lack of respect, inclusion, and inability to provide the clarity and service they need. Great leaders empower their followers by serving them. Mark 10:42-45

Delegating

Grace eliminates boasting in order to free leaders as mentors through entrusting. 2 Timothy 2:1-2

Thinking inside the Box

Thinking inside the box doesn't require a graveside service, though thinking outside the box may have. Hebrews 13:11-13 This thinking is timely in a growth phase and an embalmer shouldn't be needed to straighten me out.

After inorganically thinking outside the box in order to have created something new, organically thinking inside transforms my stubborn stamina and anger into patient endurance with discernment through obedience. Then begin necessary deeper changes in my character. My former anger that was used to protest the offensive or stifling status quo can now begin to build the bridge required to unify and strengthen the old with the new that are true. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Needed is innovative leadership that combines seemingly unrelated information and people in new ways in a new season. This is the environment that continues an organization's rise to excellence. To change from only thinking outside the box to inside feels and looks like we're out of it. Acts 26:24

This new season forces me to rethink the differing influences on me between the magical and miraculous. There is plenty to validate the magical through experience and precedent that I can fall back on. This is propagated by all the self help product pervasive throughout. Philippians 3:3

The desire for the magic solution competes strongly against the miraculous whisper deep in my heart to surrender both my angry rebellion and brokenness to continue as one being taught. Isaiah 50:4,5

I learn to not have to fight though I still am willing. I must allow the intense emotions that overruled my original reluctance into action to remain fully alive in a passion driven by a burden from the Lord for others. Romans 12:4-8

I channel this warrior mentality into a fierce, yet gentle commitment to leadership that is inclusive, clarifying, and respectful which, if needed, can break a bone in order for it to heal. Proverbs 25:15

I may even learn that some of my former enemies may have been convicted to change their opposing views and come along side of what is true. I can ignore this if I continue to call my prejudices and judgemental attitudes toward them correct assumptions. Proverbs 16:7

The feeling of any new season is as though I'm beginning to run in circles though as Jefferson Starship wrote in their song Miracles "I can hear windmills and rainbows whenever you're talking to me. I feel like swirling and dancing whenever you're walking with me". Psalm 30:11-12

These times keep us young and prepared if we don't become comfortably entrenched in thinking based on start-up or former successes. Psalm 103:5

This second wind of the Spirit is refreshing as the first, yet can be frightening as we are carried to a new level. Restored first are wonder and joy or at least re-energized if only dulled. Pursuit of excellence through thinking inside the box requires this. Acts 2:42,43

We are stopped short of our perfectionist tendencies that change the vision or dream into a paralyzing nightmare through analytical reflection. Galatians 3:3

I go organic as I abandon myself to the strengths of others commonly known as delegating. By welcoming the family into this process they bring knowledge not only of the hidden depths of culture far better and quicker than most outsiders could, but also keep me from unchecked individualism. Hebrews 10:25

Many mistakes can come out of the desire for only an outsider as someone new when we are called as a like-minded family to step together into what is possibly a new season unfolding which is guided by the Word. 2 Chronicles 30:12

This requires leadership that provides a safe environment that restores thought and it's freedom and methods to communicate openly and clearly. Isaiah 32:1-4

Half-Way Hows

My lack of understanding is sometimes simply being willing only to read into or hear what's easy and pleasant to my ears.  I don't have to go away intellectually, emotionally, physically, or spiritually to figure it out. Luke 18:31-34 Unwilling to remain and play a full hand without my fingers crossed is like getting drunk on sobering news. What's lacking is overcome in knowing by faith of the One who lacks nothing. Psalm 34:8-11

Brain Storm

This is not the perfect storm, but a self-complicated one. Confusion from the unexpected brings out my tendencies to bring a crisis oriented world view into my decision process. Verbalized with words like "have to", the crisis demands toughness. Rather than listening to what's next, quick analysis kicks in to force a desired outcome. What I don't realize through this reaction is that I throw away the discernment available of the beauty of the complex, that all things are related through the sovereign control of a Holy Father. Colossians 1:9-14

I resort to unidimensional thinking in a multidimensional world in which I complicate beauty into something ugly to justify my lack of gentleness and patience.

Peace down. Psalm 85:8