Make A U-Turn

Have you ever been lost? I have, or I should say we have, my family and I. Many vacation trips ago, before GPS and smartphones with guidance apps, we would drive to a vacation destination without an electronic voice telling us to “Stay in the two left lanes” or telling us “In one-mile exit to the right” or in my case, “Make a U-turn, then proceed to the route.” Instead, we had a large road atlas with all 50 states with interstates, highways, and county roads shown in detail on colorful maps. We would plot out our course with a high-lite marker and set off on our adventure. “Adventure” is the word my wife uses when we or I lose our way. It puts a positive spin on “not really knowing” where we are and takes some of the pressure off the pilot. I do not recall a time we traveled on vacation without at least one “adventure” sometimes, we were lucky enough to have several “adventures.” Just saying…

I have a decent, if not a good, sense of direction. Growing up enjoying the outdoors, hunting, fishing, exploring helped me find my way around in unfamiliar territory by seeking landmarks I could follow back to my starting point. A large tree, a pile of boulders, a game trail, the position of the sun, and so on and so forth; however, lately, the “lost” I am feeling has nothing to do with travel or exploring unfamiliar territory; it comes from deep within. The effect is an unusual experience for someone like me, an extroverted personality who enjoys learning new things, exploring new territories, conversing with others, and sharing my faith. 

If I had to describe the feeling of uncertainty within, I would use the Six Sigma term “Cause and Effect.” The “Cause” is in part due to the changes we have experienced in the world around us. We have experienced dramatic, unprecedented changes over the past several months, and it has been difficult to keep up and maintain a positive mental attitude due in part to the pandemic dilemma but, more importantly, having to remain distant and away from others, friends, family, new acquaintances. The “Effect” is an alone, lost feeling within that waxes and wanes. Some days the emptiness is barely noticeable; other days, it is much stronger.

The Good News is knowing this is just a season in my life, and God has His healing hand on us as He directs our lives. He is the ultimate navigator, the true north on our moral compass. As leaders in our homes, communities, and organizations, we must understand GPS is not short for Global Positioning System; it is short for “God’s Providence = Success.” We must never forget that the greatest model for our leadership direction always comes from the life of God himself. 

As leaders, when we find ourselves lost in the world, we should understand He provides comfort and cleansing to His people through comfort and security. He makes the path straight for us, then has us speak His words through empowerment and delegation. He provides good news and guides His people like a Shepherd through His Shepherding and direction.

We must understand no one can challenge God’s strength. He is a leader with unequaled power. He has the ultimate power and authority and lights the path for us to follow. He is the transcendent leader who builds and develops us. He is the creator and developer. He is the source for every need we have as wise counselor and provider.

It is in these few words I find comfort, strength, security, and a new sense of direction by knowing He is the Light and the Way to getting back on a familiar path with the understanding leaders must not only endure change, but they must also create it. “Spoiler Alert” leaders are normal people, human beings who are susceptible to the same feelings as everyone else. We sometimes suffer from the hardening of attitudes. We sometimes lose perspective on what real problems look like and what God can do. However, what makes the difference in a leader is their ability to focus on His promise and gifts of hope, faith, joy, and unconditional love and not focus on our problems.

I want to encourage each of us, when we find ourselves lost in the world; remember, God has a plan for our life, and wants us to rely on Him as we set the example and remain useful. Together, we as leaders are gifted abilities and talents to help us know to remain useful. We must be stretched and challenged; we must draw our identity from God, and we must possess stable values. I am encouraged that we, as leaders, understand when we are stretched and challenged, remain secure in Him, and remain solid in our convictions; we will be directed from the darkness into the light where we will find strength in Him to make a difference and add value to those around us. Jeremiah 13-1:11

Have a wonderful day,

James

An Open-Door Policy

Lately, I have been reminded more than once about the need to find time alone with God, encouragement to make this a priority daily. I’ve seen the reminders in print, heard the words in a sermon, and song. 

As disciples, we are the great cheerleaders of gathering. We are gatherers of people, excited to come together to share in a joy and love for our God. We encourage one another to be in worship, join a small group, serve on a team… These are incredibly important elements in our discipleship and without a doubt, we need to gather together, learn, and serve together in His name. But the picture is not complete without quiet, alone time with our great God. We have an open invitation from the very God that spoke to Moses from a mountaintop, split the sea, and resurrected our Jesus from the tomb. We’ve been invited into his presence for a personal relationship.with.God. He has an “open-door” policy designed especially for each of us to come often and individually. We can’t miss out on this. God is waiting for us to open the conversation, “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you” Jeremiah 29:12-14

When we can’t or won’t take the time to make prayer/devotion time alone with God, there’s a problem to be dealt with. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book “Life Together,” reminds of the pitfalls of only finding God in community.

“Whoever cannot be alone should beware of community. Such people will only do harm to themselves and to the community. Alone you stood before God when God called you. Alone you had to obey God’s voice. Alone you had to take up your cross, struggle, and pray and alone you will die and give an account to God. You cannot avoid yourself, for it is precisely God who has singled you out. If you do not want to be alone, you are rejecting Christ’s call to you, and you can have no part in the community of those who are called.”

As we move forward, one step at a time, on our journey, may we remember to gather one on one with our Father in heaven regularly, intentionally, and thankfully.

Tammy