Growing Weary?

One of the main leadership lessons I've been learning lately is that this work is tiring.  Thinking, planning, praying, writing, talking, serving, helping people work through change ... it doesn't stop.

But I also know there is a difference between being tired and being weary.

We usually get tired when we are working hard, from doing things that need to be done, from thinking forward and planning and collaborating to make it come to pass.

We usually get weary when we having been working hard and it seems we are having no effect.  Either the vision doesn't catch on, the planning goes too slow (or too fast), or the people don't cooperate (or actively resist).

Likely we've all been both of these at different times, working on different efforts.  What it reminds me is that the work of leadership will only happen when we have a calling, a passion, a specific desire to do something.  Otherwise it's too much and we'll throw up our hands and walk away.

The corollary, of course, is the critical step of defining to what it is that we are called.  It can be easy, at times, to think that we are called to a specific job, a specific ministry, a specific project.  But I would argue that careers and positions are simply expressions of that call, vehicles to live out our call or our passion.

That is why connection as my passion can enable me to direct a local Portland nonprofit ... at the same time co-directing an international microenterprise ministry ... at the same time I chair a denominational board.  In each case, the work that I do is cast a vision for connecting people to people, groups to groups, organizations to organizations.

And while I am almost always tired, it is that vision, that passion for connection, that keeps me from growing weary.

What is your passion?

Leading by Lessening

A couple of months ago, I saw a book at the library called The 100 Thing Challenge.  It sounded interesting so I picked it up.  Essentially, the author was overcome at his own consumerism (as I often am) and worked out a plan to get himself down to 100 personal possessions or less and stay that way for at least a year.

I've been thinking about this a lot, and finally this past week I decided I'm going to do it.  So you can follow along on my journey through this.  First, a few rules I know I'll use to make this clearer for me:

1. This is my challenge, not anyone else's.  I learned this from the author, who shared that just because he decided to take the challenge didn't mean he needed to go through his wife's or kids' possessions and do the same thing.  This will be key for me, along with not judging others who have more, even many more.
2. This can only be about my personal possessions, not shared possessions.  While in some ways I suppose this is cheating, if I counted all of our furniture, games, and the like, I'd be left without clothes.  Maybe eventually as a family we'll have this conversation about winnowing our family possessions, but for now those things don't count against my total
3. Only permanent possessions will count.  I wasn't sure how to word this, but essentially what I mean is that I'm not going to count things like toothpaste, deodorant, or food and drink.  While I certainly possess them and can be a consumer about them, things related to sustenance and daily necessities are not my primary concern related to stockpiling them
4. Some things will only count as one even though there are more than one of them.  The most obvious examples here are going to be underwear and socks and (more controversial, I know) books, music, and movies.  Each of those latter things will count as "1 collection" or "1 library."  Hear me out before you accuse too strongly, though :)  Some of those possessions are family possessions, but recognizing my own ability to cop out in these areas, I have put limits on my personal items in these areas: 100 books (believe me, that's going to involve some serious winnowing), 20 DVDs, 8 board games.  Music is hard because it's all electronic now; needs more reflection
5. I'll still be able to buy things.  As the author pointed out, the goal wasn't to avoid buying (though that will have to be part of it) but to reduce possessions and live more simply.  So as long as I'm below the 100 items, I can purchase.  If I'm at 100, I will have to give away one thing before purchasing another, making my purchases much more thoughtful

I've started with my closet.  The author of the book only ended with about 25 clothing items ... but he didn't have a job where he had to be in meetings or presenting, and he lived in San Diego.  I will often be meeting with local pastors, or with denominational leaders here and abroad, and I live in Portland, Oregon, so my clothing is already up to about 40 items and may climb a little more.

I'm curious about your feedback about this idea and about my rules. Are there other things I should consider?  I'll post my initial list in the next week and keep you updated as I continue to think it through.

Leadership is love

I spent several hours yesterday and today in my 3rd grade son's class.  Yesterday I was volunteering, helping students with some grammar assignments and helping them finish a craft project (papier-mache masks).  Today was the end-of-the-year picnic so I came to play games and be an extra adult (mostly) helping the teacher.

I've been volunteering all year and have grown very fond of the kids; the reverse is also true.  Many of the kids call me Uncle David, or Dad.  I've shrugged off most of the banter but today realized there might be more underlying it than I thought.

I learned today that one kid's mom divorced her dad this year, and that another has one parent here and the other in a different country.  I learned that the grandmother of one lives in a garage -- finished and very nice, the kid hastened to add, but a garage nonetheless.  I know of several other family and housing issues as well.

It's certainly true that our public school teachers have great potential to make a lasting difference not just on an individual child but on a family and a community.  The corollary is also true: parents have a tremendous opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the kids at their local school.  I guarantee you that the love I have poured out on the kids in my son's class has made a difference, already, in their education and their quality of life.

It is here where I have such difficulty with homeschooling.  My wife and I are fully committed to having our children in public school, and to walking with our children through that sometimes unpleasant journey.  We know they may not get the best academic situations ... but that's not our number one priority.  We are determined to live in our community, to partake of the life of the people who surround us.

Our senior pastor last week spoke about how holiness is not a boundary, a barrier that keeps things out, but how it comes from the center, as a means of influence.  This is our philosophy, too: we believe in the power of God and in our ability as his children to influence those around us.  We believe our children can do that as well, and that our children seeing us involved in their lives and those of their classmates will make a lasting impression on them and inspire them to make a difference also.

It may not happen ... but it strikes me that leadership is really all about love.  I'm grateful that a group of 9-year-olds can teach me great leadership lessons even as I try to teach them some.