When The Big C Hits Home
This weekend it was announced that, due to financial issues in the church, my position was being eliminated. For more than five years I've grown to love the people of this church. I have prayed for you, tried to encourage you and also to challenge you to love God and love others.
This has been an interesting past few days: first being told the news on Friday and then having the privilege of performing not one, but two weddings over the weekend.
One of the weddings is for a couple that committed their lives to the Lord at the beginning of this year. In fact, one of the relatives told me of the incredible life-change that has taken place in the groom's life since then!
I am reminded of Paul’s words to the Romans in the twelfth chapter: “… his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Rom. 12:2).
Generally speaking, none of us likes CHANGE - unless we are initiating and leading the change. (Even at that, there isn’t a guarantee.)
When change is imposed on us, we can fight it – which really results in fighting for control – or we can submit to it. I have learned to accept change, even though I do not always enjoy the process of change.
Our perspective to change means everything. I may have been serving in a particular local church body, but they have not been my master. My Master is in charge of changes and none of this has surprised him.
My Master has a plan that is “good”! It isn’t bad for you (us) and nothing could be better!
My Master has a plan that is “pleasing”! It will satisfy you (us) and provide contentment!
My Master has a plan that is “perfect”! Nothing you (we) can come up with will be better!
Yeah, I like change better when I’m in control, but it makes it easier (not easy) when I keep focused on seeing my master in control.
#4 Relator
Continuing the results of my Strengths Finder 2.0 evaluation, my fourth strength is that of "Relator."
People who are especially talented in the Relator theme enjoy close relationships with others. They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal.
I have a great love for working on teams. There is incredible potential when people set aside personal agendas and work toward a common goal. John Maxwell used to say that "teamwork makes the dream work." How true it is. In fact, David says in Psa 133:1 that when unity is present, everyone wins. Unity requires that individual preferences and agendas are set aside for the greater good.
To use a very popular phrase: "We are better together!"
#3 Learner
This is Part Three looking at my results from the Strengths Finder assessment by Tom Rath.
My third highest ranked strength is that of "Learner."
People who are especially talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.
It has been said that when you stop learning, you've started dying. I remember my college graduation like it was a long time ago... maybe 'cause it was! I do remember having the thought, "I'm done with the formal education system. For here on, it's the School of Hard Knocks." In recent years though, the idea of furthering my education has crept into my thinking occasionally. I lay down and it eventually goes away.
I do have a desire to continue to grow. I read books and attend conferences in an effort to learn more. I can count on one hand, and have fingers left over, the number of fiction books I've read in the past couple of decades. I used to read novels all the time, but I made a switch years ago to focus my reading on gaining information with the goal of personal growth.
I remember one of my kid's first grade teachers. She had been teaching for 30 years. I believe that she had taught one year, thirty times. It seemed that she hadn't made any significant shifts in her teaching methods, even some of the decorations she had in the class were yellowed with time.
I don't understand people that want to change for the sake of change, I also don't want to be caught in the 'how did we do it last year' mentality!
Growth requires learning!
Sabbath!
For the last couple of weeks I've been enjoying my annual extended Sabbath. This year was a transition point in our family. Last year, it seems, was our last 'family vacation.' This year our eldest stayed home to work and minimize her accumulating student loan. Our middle child chose to join the youth Ministry Tour instead of spending time with us! So, my wife and I packed up with our 12 year old son and headed off.
I've learned about myself that it takes me a few days before I begin to unwind. This year was made more complex when I decided to attempt a washroom renovation. That turned out to be more akin to pouring gasoline on a fire than anything else. I didn't get nearly as much done as I planned and that didn't help with my stress level the first few days of vacation! However, once we blew town, I began to feel the stress dissipating from my body.
It was great to have the detox time, now it's climbing back in the saddle and getting back up to speed.
BTW: I've decided that unless you are a boater, scuba diver or a drinker: you don't need to spend more than a couple of days in Key West.
#2 Responsibility
This is a continuation of a series of blog entries dealing with my results of the online assessment of Tom Rath's book, Strengths Finder.
My second highest ranking strength is Responsibility
People who are especially talented in the Responsibility theme take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty.
Coming on the heals of a rather rough and stress-filled, week, this strength has given me pause to evaluate. When I say I will do something, when I give my word, I will bend over backwards to fulfill the expectations. I also have the tendency to take responsibility for things that I see falling through the cracks. It is usually those items that cause me extreme stress.
Matthew 5:37 says that we are to let our 'yes' be 'yes' and our 'no' be 'no.'
Christ shows the ultimate responsibility! Thankfully he took on himself the responsibility of paying for our sin. When God made the decision that he would send His son to earth to die, the Son stepped up and accepted the responsibility. Even while in the garden, moments before the soldiers arrived, he did not look forward to the path he was about to walk, but he held true to his commitment.
While this may be an inherent strength, I fall short of Christ's example of follow through.
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