06.22.19 - week 9
when you want something for someone more than they want it for themselves, you are hurting them a little and yourself a lot.
when you do for someone what they could reasonably do for themselves, you are hurting yourself a little and them a lot.
one of my favorite little bible things is the apparent contradiction in galatians 6. we are told to ‘bear one another’s burdens’ and also told ‘each one must bear his own load.’ well which is it? do more for others or let them figure it out for themselves. in that classically frustrating jesus-y way, the answer is both. do whatever you can do to help, but don’t over do it.
‘i do too much for people’ is a very michael scott type weakness. i.e. it sounds like a strength. but it genuinely hurts others. when we don’t let others fall, they can’t learn.
this is why god’s love often includes unenjoyable consequences and discipline. it’s a perfecting love, not a pampering one.
unless we feel the weight of our choices, we won’t learn make better ones.
anyway, i have a couple sermons on my youtube page on this topic,
by all means check them out if you are interested.
Cup of Leadership
but they stopped calling right when i needed them most.
but she never even said she was sorry.
but you haven’t heard what they said when i wasn’t around.
but they ghosted me and all those promises they made.
but they acted like it was a contract when they said it was a covenant.
but but but but ….
now hear me clearly, i’m not advocating for some hippy-style reductionist, let’s just hug + smoke our way to peace nonsense. but i’m also not with the way things are usually done. i can do better.
withholding relationship isn’t right. withholding kind words they are dying to hear isn’t kind. pretending things are fine while holding onto hidden bitterness is counterproductive. layering reason on top of reason why i shouldn’t have to do the simple right thing isn’t good.
just try. answer the text. say ‘i’m sorry we got here.’ reach farther than your flesh wants to.. love anyway.
Book Review
i am unashamedly anti-chronological snobbery. that is, those who came before often have much more to teach us than we are willing to see right now. more than 50 years since original publication, peter drucker’s classic tome on execution + self-management has never been more timely. in a world of endless distraction, the simple advice in these pages from one of the godfathers of modern leadership theory is revolutionary.
this newer edition contains an introduction from jim collins (of good to great fame) which is worth the book, let alone the original content itself. somehow the lack of modernity in the examples helps the core advice shine through even brighter. drucker claimed that his life’s work was to try and make organizations both more efficient and humane, a false dichotomy i would love to see demolished as well. it’s simply timeless work i highly recommend to anyone in a leadership role.
3 Things I Really Liked This Week
1. zion. woah. this dude is something..
2. live video of my favorite new worship song this year from my friend sean curran.
3. our fam has a big week this week. we would appreciate your prayers for a few big decisions we are making, exciting, but daunting.