A Good Eye

A critical eye is an important tool in a leader's toolbox. It's valuable to be able to see what is going on in an organization and even in your family. Accurately assessing areas of need and seeing what other people miss separates excellent leaders from average. There is a distinct difference however, between analyzing situations for improvement and only seeing the negative side. It's far too easy to slide into cynical criticism and miss the opportunity to reward the positive. Allowing yourself to lead this way discourages the people around you and can cause you to miss the good things that are taking place.

We've got to learn to not only speak up when something is wrong or poorly done, but also learn to reward progress and to lift up positive actions. This is a necessary balance that sets the right tone for learning what needs to be corrected and also reinforcing healthy decisions. It helps us raise children who find a comfortable balance between necessary correction and positive reinforcement. It also helps us lead in a way that brings out the best in people instead of only punishing poor choices.

Unrewarded

There reaches a point in every professional athletic season when it's apparent that some teams are not going to make the post season. It's in that moment that a decision has to be made by each player on that team. They can choose to continue working hard in preparation even though their ultimate goal cannot be reached or take the option of going through the motions and doing just enough to collect a paycheck. Either decision will reveal the depth of character of a person and their true motivation for their profession. Continuing to work with intense focus without immediate reward will often reveal more about a person than their performance in success.

How do you perform when it seems like a season is lost? Do you maintain the same focus when immediate rewards are not as evident? A leader of integrity will commit consistent energy and effort in positive and negative circumstances. Perseverance in adversity will strengthen and reveal our character.

Risky Easter

We moved away from our main campus and our normal multiple services this Easter to have one huge event at the Centennial Center at Georgia College. We wanted to do something completely different from the normal routine in hopes of reaching people who might not ordinarily attend a church service. We've invested creative energy, finances, personal invitation, faithful prayers, and detailed planning to see it succeed. We aren't sure exactly what will happen, but we're trusting that God will deliver His intended result.

It's a risky move to change what people are used to, but we believe that you need to take that risk to see a reward. When you're trying to reach a community that isn't sure about Jesus, there's nothing (short of sin) that is outside the realm of possibility.

Worth It

My wife is a runner. She has worked to increase her dedication to this endeavor in the last few years and continues to amaze me with her perseverance. She commented on her Facebook profile about a difficult run recently and her brother (who is a mega-distance runner) posted this underneath, "It gets easier, then it gets harder again, then you are better, faster, stronger."

What a powerful statement that isn't just about running. It's about parenting, marriage, devotion, Christianity, personal relationships, and career. It's the motto of following God and trusting in the way He makes all things new. It's a reminder that you sometimes have to be broken before you can be made wholly new again. The act of breaking is horrific sometimes, but the strength gained makes the new person that you become appreciate the process you endured. It's reason enough to keep putting one foot in front of the other. 

525,600 Minutes

My youngest daughter & I spent the afternoon together running errands around town and enjoying a daddy-daughter Starbucks date. I love spending one-on-one time with her and hearing the thoughts that are rolling around in her head. As she and I talked about the end of the year, she expressed her disbelief that 2012 is coming to an end and that we are about to begin another new year. I understand exactly what she was saying--it certainly seems like the year has sped by without a whole lot of advance warning.

The truth is that we all have the exact same amount of time in a year. It isn't portioned out differently if you are busier than most, wiser than your peers, or have more money than the GNP of a third world country. We don't lose increments of time when we choose to speak rashly, sleep longer than we intended, or keep repeating our mistakes. This timely gift we receive each year is the same regardless of social status, geographic location, ethnicity, or religious beliefs.

The results of the investment of our time will be what separates us from everyone else. We have the potential for our families to grow stronger, our confidence in God to increase, our impact to multiply exponentially, and our spirit to be transformed. Our 525,600 minutes move forward at the same rate as everyone else. With the right focus, however, the results of our efforts bring greater satisfaction and reward.