Someone once said that the key to organizational thriving is to get the Vision “off the wall and down the hall.” This is simply a recognition that there is a difference, at times, between the aspirational and the practical. I was asked recently what kind of team culture I considered conducive to thriving. My response was, in part, to lay out the Five Pillars of Team Culture that I feel are essential: Contagiously Positive, Exceedingly Helpful, Personally Responsible, Relentlessly Improving, and Laser-Focused. The team will thrive if these five characteristics are present in a Team and its members.
Here is the greater question: “Do I really want that?” Some days, if I am honest, I don’t want to be positive. Some days I want to sit alone and whine to myself (and maybe the Lord) …rehearsing every unjust thing that has ever happened. Some days I don’t want to be relentlessly improving. Innovation and reinvention are hard work! Comfortable is more attractive some days. Even if I “say” that I want these characteristics to be true, in my heart… I know that it is not true. So, what does one “do” when you don’t want what you want to want?
That’s the question I took to prayer this morning as I read Psalm 128 and prayed it back to the Lord.
1How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. 2When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well with you. 3Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine Within your house, Your children like olive plants Around your table. 4Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the Lord. 5The Lord bless you from Zion, and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. 6Indeed, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!
Psalm 128:1-6, NASB95
Such huge categorical statements of unequivocal truth here. The people who fear the Lord and walk in His ways shall be blessed! The word blessed is the Hebrew, as re, and it means to be fortunate or happy. Our happiness is based on the fact that things will go well with you (v.2), your wife and your children will be blessed and fruitful (v.3), and for many generations (v.6). God will be present in your midst and will bless you and your people, His people, with Peace. This is a HUGE promise! There is no downside at all. So, why do I still resist walking in His ways in fear (Hebrew- ya re, meaning to be afraid, to honor, to reverence, to be in awe)? The answer comes down to trust, I think, and has been the issue since the first couple in the Garden (Gen 3).
So, my prayer this morning is for the Lord to help me to more fully want what I want to want, even when I don’t want it. Perhaps that is your cry before him as well. Grace and Peace.
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