Starbucks, downtown Nashville…..I am starkly reminded about the frail, broken reality of being human.
Beside me, a mentally challenged man laughs hysterically. He seems to be having a really good conversation with an imaginary friend. Without warning, he suddenly bangs his head on the table! Broken.
Glancing out the window, I watch the downtown core bustle. Well-dressed shoppers and business people focused on hurrying-to-the-next-appointment. On the outside, looking fine…….on the inside, are some just like the gentleman beside me?
As business owners and leaders, it is so very easy to project “unbroken” to those around us in order to…..
- Put on the brave face.
- Always say “its fine”, even when we know it is not.
- Have the “right” answer, when we haven’t got the foggiest.
There is still much of how we live and lead that can come from our own egotistical self. Take some time to reflect on your own conversation-within…..is it possible that you, too, sometimes put on that mask?
I’ve been enjoying a thoughtful, provocative, slow read in Ruth Haley Barton’s “Strengthening The Soul Of Your Leadership”. She invites leaders to ponder what is and isn’t happening in the inner person. She invites us to embrace the broken reality of our being human so that we can grow deeper in our relationship with Christ.
Join me in prayerfully reflecting on 2 leadership questions, from Ruth Haley Barton, as we move into 2018.
“Jesus, as I reflect and ponder the attitudes and actions I engaged in over the last year…
- What was from You?
- What was not from You?”
Perhaps the challenged gentleman beside me is actually much more truthful about his reality than many of the people milling around him?
Maybe he is being more real than me, or you?
A Deliberate Application:
Set aside some time to pause and ask these 2 questions. Make notes on what you are sensing God asking of you. Consider your connection with Christ, yourself, family and friends; consider the leadership of your business and team?
- What did you hear as you reflected?
- How aligned are your answers with how Jesus would have you live?
- How does your reflection inform your thinking for 2018? Who will you share this with?
