Desperation and Aspiration

I have been stuck in the theory for as far back as I can remember that the only reason people and institutions change is because they are desperate. I mean, that basically sums up the way I change. Peter Senge's thoughts, in his afterword to the 25th Anniversary edition of Robert Greenleaf's Servant Leadership, were a breath of inspiration to me:

There's an old saw, that there are only two fundamental sources of change in human affairs: aspiration and desperation. We are familiar with the phrase, "Nothing will ever change unless there is a crisis." That's desperation. As far as I can see, the number one leadership strategy in America is quite simple to describe: Create a crisis. Or if you're really clever, create the fear that a crisis is about to hit. That shows the extent to which we have allowed the diminishment for our capacity for aspiration.

Aspiration drives virtually all fundamental learning. Why did we learn to walk? Why did we learn to talk? Why did we learn anything that we consider really significant in our lives? Did we suddenly wake up one morning at the age of eight months and say, "Oh my gosh, my life is never going to turn out. I'm going to be a total loser if I don't learn to walk!" Or, did we learn to walk because we wanted to? That's aspiration. Just imagine: What if ninie out of ten change initiatives, in our organizations or in our societies, were driven by excitement, by the idea that this would serve somebody in a different way, that this would give us a better way of living? This would be very different from crisis and fear, our current primary motivators for change.

Some Thoughts on Joshua

(July's Crossroads Article)

"After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying, 'My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them...'" Joshua 1:1-2

In preparation for Camp E.D.G.E. Vacation Bible School, I have become caught up in one of the stories in particular, the life of Joshua. Joshua was Moses' assistant. Joshua was a young man, more than likely born during the people of Israel's wandering in the desert. He had been well-mentored in the art of wandering in the desert. He knew how to collect manna, he knew how to watch for the pillar of clouds and the pillar of fire. He was ready to take over. However, God had different plans. When it became time for Joshua to lead, God wanted to lead the people of Israel into their new home. The only qualification Joshua had for this new direction was his faith that God would lead and provide.

As a church, we are in the midst of the still-speaking God working in new and different ways in our community. Much of what we have learned about what a church is and what a church does is of little or no use to us now. Yet God has put you and me here to lead in such a time as this. And make no mistake, child of God, you are a leader. We have been called to lead people into the promised land of loving God, loving others, and serving the world. Our qualifications are that we are available and that we are confident that God accompanies us in our journey and in our work.

As we move forward as a church, I invite you to hear God's words to Joshua ringing clear through the millennia to us: "Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Peace,
Pastor Jason

To Lead is to Accept

I have never heard this stated so eloquently. Who am I kidding? I've never gotten this at all. I feel like I need to start all over again from scratch:


"Because of the vagaries of human nature, the halt, the lame, half-made creatures that we all are, the great leader (whether it is the mother in her home or the head of a vast organization) would say what the wife said about home in Robert Frost's poem. The interest in and affection for one's followers that a leader has--and it is a mark of true greatness when it is genuine--is clearly something the followers 'haven't to deserve.' Great leaders, including 'little' people, may have gruff, demanding, uncompromising exteriors. But deep down inside the great ones have empathy and an unqualified acceptance of the persons of those who go with their leadership.

Acceptance of the person, though, requires a tolerance of imperfection. anybody could lead perfect people--if there were any. But there aren't any perfect people. And the parents who try to raise perfect children are certain to raise neurotics.

It is part of the enigma of human nature that the 'typical' person--immature, stumbling, inept, lazy--is capable of great dedication and heroism if wisely led. Many otherwise able people are disqualified to lead because they cannot work and through the half-people who are all there are. The secret of institution building is to be able to weld a team of people by lifting them up to grow taller than they would otherwise be."

Robert K. Greenleaf, Servant Leadership

Great Quote

"This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no 'brief candle' to me; it is a sort of splendid torch which I've got to hold up for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."

George Bernard Shaw

When I Take the Time to Look...

...I learn about the plethora of important things that are going on right under my nose. Today I had the privilege of attending an interfaith open house at the Lake Worth Resource Center, a center that serves the Hispanic (largely Guatemalan) community in Lake Worth by helping them find work and learn English and job skills. I was amazed at the work that is going on there.

While there, I met a man named John who lives in an "intentional community" called Coral House Community. They are a group of people who have chosen to live together in community and serve the homeless of Lake Worth.

Wow! Sometimes I get paralyzed. There is so much that needs to be done, so much that needs to change, that I don't know where to start...so I don't. What an inspiration God handed to me today. Thanks be to God!

The Amazing Sally Welsh

Sally Welsh is the director of the municipal pool here in Lake Worth. I heard her speak Monday evening at the Eden Place Neighborhood Association meeting and I came away inspired.

"What is so exciting about a swimming pool?" you may ask. Everything about pools and swimming lessons and water exercise is exciting to Sally Welsh. She is positive and passionate about her job. I can't imagine there was a single person in that room who didn't at least contemplate checking out what the Lake Worth pool has to offer. I'm going to take Emerson there for swimming lessons, even though it will be less convenient for us than other places would be.

Being energetic, passionate, and positive can be transforming for those who surround us. As people of faith, specifically as people who have experienced the good news of Jesus Christ, we should be the most positive, passionate people of all.

People Notice When We Notice People!

I have had two interactions with two different people who have each recently begun attending our church. They were complimentary of the music and the preaching. However, what both of them made a point of telling me was how much they appreciated being authentically welcomed at our church. One told me in a letter, that she had attended another church for 30 years and never felt the welcome from the people there that she has in the short time she has been here.

Let me tell you, hearing that unsolicited testimony made my heart sing! We are working hard to find out how God is at work here in Lake Worth and how we can be involved. But one way we KNOW God is at work is in welcoming God's children home. And I am so proud to be a part of a group of people who get that and our joining God in that work.

As we continue to reach out into our community, let me encourage you to continue to model God's radical love, acceptance, and grace to those who are directed into our midst.