Before you head out into your weekend, here are three quotes from my reading this week that I have been thinking about. Hope they are as helpful and challenging for you as they have been for me.
Have a great weekend!
#1
There’s often doubt. Giving someone the benefit of that doubt enables us to move forward, and that requires us to realize that our doubt might be unfounded. Systems that assume goodwill create possibility, connection and utility far easier than those that don’t.. – Seth Godin
“Systems that assume goodwill create possibility.” I believe this is also true for individuals who assume goodwill by giving people the benefit of the doubt. Want to see your key relationships grow more deeply? Want to see what is possible? Begin to give people the benefit of the doubt in every circumstance. Is a co-worker late for an appointment. “Probably stuck in traffic.” Does your friend give a snarky answer to an obvious and easy question. “Perhaps having a bad day.” Looking for a gracious way to respond is creating goodwill. I always feel better about relationships when I know they will give me the benefit of the doubt instead of those relationships which seem to start over without trust at every interaction. The people who give me the benefit of the doubt free me to be myself without being on guard. In my opinion, giving grace far exceeds the risk of those few people who will take advantage of it.
#2
Thus, spiritual formation leads not to a proud understanding of divinity, but to docta ignorantia, an “articulate not-knowing.” – Spiritual Formation by Henri J.M. Nouwen
The more you know, the more you are aware of how little you know. Therefore, humility and gratitude are key measures of spiritual formation. Are we more humble and more grateful than this time last year? If so, we can be assured you are growing in grace toward the image of Christ even though it may feel we have so much farther to go than ever before.
#3
Practicing church leaders must be constantly vigilant of their own growth in Christ if they are not to fall prey to the temptation to rely on the power and prestige of office alone. – Leading God’s People by Christopher A. Beeley
This is a continuation of last week’s top3. It is meant for me mostly. People sometimes defer to me based on my role in the congregation. But I don’t want to be deferred to based on my title. I want to be a co-laborer and co-journeyer within the church family. But that kind of relationship is developed by consistently being open, available, and a steady presence. Those traits are made possible as a result of my relationship with Christ. That is why the most important thing I do is tend my own relationship with Jesus. So thankful that I have people around me who not only model that but help me live into it. I long to be a useful servant not a figurehead.
todd nelson 