The Hardest Thing I Do
I think the hardest thing I do every day is not to build or sustain momentum for the church. It's not writing messages, or even giving leadership to our team. The hardest thing I do is to keep the church outsider focused.
That actually shouldn't surprise me because the hardest thing I have to do in self-leadership is to keep my personal life pointing toward others, not myself.
The drift inward - for organizations and individuals - is automatic, gravitational and effortless. Almost all organizations would rather care for their own interests, not the interest of others. Like employees at a retail store who look bothered when a customer interrupts their personal conversation to ask for help, most communities are self absorbed. Why? Because (no surprise), most of us are self-absorbed. The nature of sin is self-focus. We evaluate church through the lens of personal preferences (I like this...I don't like that....), not through the lens of what will reach our neighbours or be faithful to the ultimate purpose Christ has for the church.
If an organization becomes self-focused, ultimately it becomes selfish, unprogressive, resistant to change and indifferent or even hostile to the needs of others. An outward focused organization becomes more generous, more compassionate, more responsive and ultimately far more effective. No surprise there of course, because Jesus said when we give our life away for His sake we'll find it.
I'm increasingly convinced that when the church in North America is declining it's because we are self-focused, and that when the church in North America is growing its because we are others-focused and Christ-focused. We plant churches all the time that claim they exist to reach the lost but function as though they exist to please their members.
But focusing outward is incredibly hard work. Because an inward drift is steady and instinctual, an outward focus has to be intentional, deliberate and sacrficial.
Every day, I feel like I am on a personal and collective journey to make this life about Christ and about others. I wish it was getting easier, but it's just hard work.
How about you? What's the hardest thing you do? How is your life and your community becoming more inward focused or more outward focused?
What’s the hardest thing I do?
When I was really young, I found it easy to remember people’s names. That has become more difficult in time. (apart from old(r) age old-zimer’s syndrome, which I hate to admit) I just find it frustrating to be involved with a group of people week after week, and have to be reminded of a person’s name.
I got to thinking that since I’m self absorbed, I’ve not made the effort to remember their name. My energy is not pointed outward. It’s inward. It’s a mindset. One of the hardest things I’m finding is breaking a bad habit developed over the years of serving me, is to reverse the energy flow and give. Find out who’s who and who’s doing what. Remembering her children’s names, or his accomplishment at work; an important event; means I’m reaching out to others. (I’ve spent too much time telling my story. it’s old!)
In business, we call it Networking. As a Christian, it’s Fellowship.
I’m finding it easier each time to pay attention and take note of someone else’s story or concern. That grows to reaching out to people who are searching. Being ready and receptive for that new fellowship.
That’s what I find difficult to do in these days when I’m burdened with working to pay the bills. I have to keep reminding myself, or be reminded by our community, that we are to walk together. That’s what God wants of us.
Case in point; my son just “bothered” me three times during this writing. I could be irritated with the interruption and “will talk to you later” or just be grateful that he’s here to talk to when he’s ready. Not when I’m ready. Mind you, that’s parenting. But, that’s also out reach. I’ve not been good at this in the past.
That’s what I find hard to do.