It is not a simple task to look back on a year that seemed to never end, constantly zigging and zagging, I most remember the pain, strain, tension and sleepless nights, yet it is shortsighted to factor out God's work. Was it pure joy when we faced trials in 2020, did the testing of our faith produce perseverance, leading to maturity? May God open the eyes of our hearts to see takeaways from 2020. This is my attempt to recap, I'd love to hear your too.
Top 7 Takeaways:
7. Anxiety Bites!
My family and many close friends and colleagues (and my son) have been struck with anxiety, especially this year. A virus, jobs, uncertainty, sudden changes, unknowns have abounded. Fear can hijack our minds, and send the chemicals in our brain haywire. FEAR stands for, as my mentor Dr Marty says, 'Fantasy Experienced As Reality.' I'm learning that anxiety is a brutal thought process where outcomes have ME and MY understanding at the center of it, factoring out God and others. I do this more than I'd like to admit. We do seem to find greater wholeness when God is invited back in to express the reality that we are NOT the center of life, nor are we alone. It has been helpful for me to acknowledge that God is the one who initiates with me, and others, and that I have very gifted people around me to trust in. And for the havoc anxiety can wreak, therapy (i.e. TMS) might even help for capacity to get there. Time to bite anxiety back!
6. Family: Just Keep Skimming...
Our family can connect so much deeper than we have been. I had been settling for skimming. Too much disconnected co-existing with my family. The distraction of iPhones and apps, pulled me out of being 'present-to.' I aimed this year to be more present, and kept allowing myself to disengage. This year I am powerfully committing to leave my phone in another room when engaging in family times during evenings and weekend times. In fact, 156 times (3x a week.) My daughter will be off to college in 2 years. No better time to be present than the present.
5. Tension Headache. This year brought unprecedented levels of tension. Racial, political, LGBT+ inclusion in leadership, pandemic approaches (mask/no-mask, shut down all vs. choose for yourself.) Also, I was asked to be in a search process for a key leadership position for YL in the Former Soviet Union, which condensed my already thin brain space. I carried way too much pressure on myself. At one point, I changed my job title on my Facebook account this summer from Regional Director, to 'Chief Tension Holding Officer,' it felt accurate The takeaway verse this year is Colossians 1:17 "Jesus is before all things and in Him, all things hold together." Thank God its not all up to me. I learned to spend times in prayer where I lay out EVERY anxiety, let God search my thoughts, I release my tensions to Him and I end up freer! Thanks be to our able God who's arms are long enough and shoulders are wide enough.
4. Vision-Nearing. I've been learning that vision is best formed
glacially, layer by layer, by praying, listening, gathering input and listening more. Then, consistently and creatively sharing it as an invitation to others to participate in. Discerning and launching our YL 'Move the Mountains' 5 year vision during a pandemic has been eye opening for how much input from staff has shaped it from what we started with. Also, how refreshing a forward moving vision has been for those eager to give beyond what I expectations and to be a valued part of it.
3. Opportunities abound! When options are limited, there is still much more we can control than we typically ever access. This year, the sense of control was stripped from us, but we were not left empty handed. Our family shed many tears over losses. Yet, this became a year of brainstorming ways to 'seize opportunities' even when it seemed overly-positive to do so. Spring Break was cancelled to Mexico, so we RV'd it to 4 remote destinations across WA and Idaho, taking epic pics. We were ordered to shelter in home, so we read, zoomed, raised puppies, watched more shows and movies together. Even in YL, we had to postpone our regional auction 4 times, yet did it virtually, and it worked. We learned to focus on what we CAN do. Brainstorms helped us get out of our scarcity mindsets. Four things we can personally control: 1. Thoughts 2. Actions. 3. Effort. 4. Attitude. We are never stuck because God is always on the move.
2. Humilitea-Time. Where pride exists, blind spots abound. Blind spots are qualities and behaviors in our life we do not see (sometimes we ignore) that others see and are impacted by. It takes humility and emotional intelligence (EQ) to shrink our blind spots. Pride and fear keep us from humbly looking at them on a personal or corporate (church, business, in organizations) level. What came out in the open this year for injustice, historical factors that contribute to the psyche and socio-economics
of people, related to old, unresolved blind spots in our culture and even how they have seeped into the church, and YL. The more power, comfort and
privilege one has, the more resistance there is to consider looking at one's blind spots. As leaders and ministers of reconciliation, (2Cor 5) engaging in blind spot shrinkage could be our humble jam, recognizing and
removing planks in our eyes. Yet, it is hard and seems futile and unfair. Yet, humility in us can create a greater sense of flourishing and belonging for others around/under us. One of the best questions to ask others around us is: “What can I do more of or less of?” I asked this from staff from all levels during evaluations and the notes I took changed the way I have been leading, especially towards women (gender dynamics in leadership are real), those from poverty or traumatic stories, and staff of color. Want to shrink blind spots? Get some shrinkage in the pride department. You won't lose your place by making space for others. "Humility means thinking of myself less, not thinking less of myself." (CS Lewis)
1. Jesus is the #1 essential priority and means to accomplish the outcomes we long for. Jesus, (not Christianity or even organized religion) ALWAYS enhances justice, a sense of belonging and wisdom of how to respond to the demands of people. Proverbs states that 'the fear of the Lord (awareness of God’s rule) is
the beginning of wisdom.' All skills, EQ, CQ,
and straightening out history do not replace Jesus, or but can be added to us as wisdom. There is no
other gospel or good news that saves. There is no lasting, saving movement other
than Jesus. Jesus encompasses and empowers movements, if He is in it. Even if American church falls far short of the bar of the Kingdom of God's perfect aims and priorities (orphans, widows, justice, equality, etc) Jesus still is
the way, the truth, the life needed and the good news to ALL people.
Share what would some of your takeaways be? Which are the same? Which are unique different to your life? I will create a new post based on comments and messages from your 2020 takeaways.
In our story, to God be the glory. 2020 is HISTORY (his-story) and 2021 is a mystery to be discovered. -Jeff-
