This is a Good Thing

We thought we could do it. Our activism and proactive planning bore that out.

No longer.

Our ability and freedom to act as we think we should in order to build the Kingdom of God (or our own kingdoms?) has been severely curtailed.  The way to the future is now murky.  Attempts are being made by leaders to get back to what was, but those attempts aren’t bearing fruit.  They likely never will.

Perhaps this is a good thing. A gift from God.

We were reduced to digital reaches and initially were giddy at the potential.  However, the stats around actual engagement are dubious at best.  We could still connect personally, but that was reduced to small circles of family, neighbours and co-workers as pandemic rules allowed.  Our reach narrowed.  It was simplified.

Perhaps this is a good thing. A gift from God.

Previously our actions and even our prayers were a means of putting us in charge of the growth and the affairs of God’s Kingdom.  We planned, executed, made policy and processes, developed seminars, services and studies.  Activism. I dare say that even our prayers accompanying all those plans were assertive and even demanding of God.  Activist prayers.  And now, control is no longer in our hands.

Perhaps this is a good thing. A gift from God.

Could this be a time, now that so much of our previous power, control and freedom has been taken away from us, to reconnect with our identity as God’s servants, and begin to pray as Mary  - “let it be done to me (us) according to your word”.  That is a servant’s prayer, not that of the activist.  A prayer that asks God to make us the person(s) through whom He can reveal Himself and bring His will into being in this world.

Pray.

Wait.

Move when He prompts.

Sit when He is silent.

Be present in the moment.

Accept the daily bread as enough provision for the day, the moment.

Surrender control.

Like a servant.

Leaders: You Gotta Serve Somebody

Leaders are great at words.  Some of the most common – and disingenuous – are words declaring the identity of the people they serve.

In my country of Canada, this has come to a head as political leadership’s decisions have, with more hypocrisy than usual, revealed who they truly serve. The typical rhetoric of leadership will eloquently identify and woo a constituent community to be served. However at some point down the road it’s the leaders’ practice, policy & behavior that become the actual ‘speech’ that reveals the priority constituency.

Politicians will state: “Once elected, we serve all people”. However, examine their policy decisions, budget allocations and patronage appointments and it’s clear that they mostly serve the survival of their party into the next election. 

Corporate leaders will say:  “We serve the client”.  Ask most clients and you will discover the truth is that they are merely the ‘target market’.  The real client is the investor.

Faith leaders state emphatically that: “We serve God and His mission to this world”.  However, decisions, budgets and programs reveal it’s the preservation of the institution and the ongoing security of the donor base/congregation that is the focus of their servant-hood. 

Leaders - STOP DECLARING whom you serve as though that is enough to preserve your reputation or elicit loyalty.  Instead, REVEAL who you serve through your decisions and actions.

Bob Dylan sang a truth that although you have choices of who to align with in this life, at some point “You’re gonna have to serve somebody”.  Centuries before that, Jesus Christ affirmed you can only follow one master and it is dangerous to try serve two.  The reason? Because the result is you will actually hold contempt for the one while serving the other. Contempt? Yes. That’s what happens when you do not lead consistent with your public declarations.  Your decisions, attitudes and actions will always lean toward your REAL master.  Then the neglected constituency experiences at minimum a benign neglect and at worst, a blatant contempt.  

The truth is, you already serve only one master.  Have you figured out who or what that is?