This year has provided many experiences that have solidified how I think about my own leadership as well as how I develop others. I've not only been able to develop someone with similar giftings and strengths as me, but also had some healthy interactions with those who are completely different than me.
I have a passion for change; both organizationally and externally in the lives of non-believers. One of the things that has kept me from leading change well has been extreme frustration and discouragement over those who 'don't get it.' I realize coming into ministry that I had an extremely low capacity in this area, and although I've seen growth in this area, still see experience it as a weakness.
I came across this section in Ezra that spoke into the reality of leading change and encouraged me to continue to expand my capacity to lead those who 'don't get it.'
"And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard from far away."--Ezra 3:11-13
A couple years ago I would have read the text this way:
- Older priests, Levites, and family heads = Bad because they didn't get it.
- Those shouting for joy = Good because they get it.
Now I read the text this way:
- Older priests, Levites, and family heads = Grieved at the loss of a temple where they ministered and an era that finally has a symbolic end in the construction of a new people
- Those shouting for joy = Encouraged at the newness and all the promises of hope it brings coming from an era where they had yet to experience worship the way the Lord designed.
I'm realizing that those resistant to change are experiencing a deep level of grief. Sometimes it manifests as weeping, other times it can manifest as anger, bitterness, pride, division, etc. For me to gain a proper perspective and lead those who don't get it well, I am learning to discern why this sort of change might cause grief and how to lead passionately but also sympathetically.
I've noticed that as I've increased my capacity to express sympathy, I've seen God redeem some people in the process that I would not have expected. In building a movement here at Chico State redeeming some of those on the fence students who I was tempted to write off has been so energizing for our movement.
