Do you know any person or organization that is in the midst of their most significant struggle – ever?
Would it help you get through the struggle if you knew that it was necessary to unleash your greatest strength?
There is a pattern throughout history that fills me with so much hope that it almost makes me wish for a big struggle…
As expats we live in a secure compound with high walls, inside those walls we have grass, trees, flowers, beauty and order.
Many local families live in their own high walled “compounds” with their extended families. And although I have never been behind those walls I have heard of their gardens.
Outside of all of our walls is the city we all share. Most of the city is full of trash, partially developed buildings, blowing sand, broken sidewalks – if there are sidewalks at all; narrow streets and tiny parking lots that don’t accommodate all of the cars, and random unmatched street lights that don’t begin to illuminate the dark.
A few weeks ago I met with some local women and they encouraged me to check out a city that is 101 kilometers (62.75 miles) away.
This past weekend, my husband and I rode there on our Harley with several other couples.
Before we left one of the women commented about how much she likes the city we were driving to. When I asked why she said, “it is just like the movies at night, it is all lit up…”
So as we drove into this neighboring city my eyes were wide open…
As I looked specifically for light sources I noticed several things:
Last week someone asked how I was feeling about a particular topic.
I answered from the heart. I was struggling. I was viewing something with fresh eyes and could clearly see that years of doing something had created a comfort zone where there is risk. Today that comfort zone is so big that unnecessary risks are being taken without a second thought.
Instead of really listening, this person attempted to explain away my concerns with something that sounded a bit like this, “We’ve always done it this way and we’ve never had a problem…”
When the conversation ended I felt like a puppy dog that had been patted on the head and dismissed.
I felt frustrated about being asked to share my thoughts, when the person asking did not demonstrate any desire to hear them.
As I was tempted to dwell on the frustration I made my mind switch gears and consider another perspective:
Yesterday I was visiting with a woman whose husband and daughter had recently returned from a mission trip where they were helping Syrian refugees.
The refugees were primarily middle class families that left everything behind (homes, jobs, family, treasured keepsakes, toys…) and fled for their lives.
With no income and winter coming their physical needs are astronomical!
So both the husband and daughter were shocked when they discovered that the biggest need these people shared was not physical….
Have you ever been in a situation that you are so close to that you can’t understand what is happening?
The short post below was originally posted on the Lead Change Group Blog and describes one of those unexpected and energy filled “Ahh Haa” moments in my life.
I have always believed that the biggest reason leaders exist, is to be a source of light and help to their organizations and the people they serve.
What if… There are two primary ways for leaders to share that light with others?
