resilience

               During this week at home I have been listening to some Cds by Gordon McDonald, kindly given to me by Yvonne, called “ a resilient life, “ and have found myself enormously impacted by his words and the example of his life.

 

    The questions he asks leaders to consider is this; what ideas and processes need to be found at the core of the life of a leaders life that enable him or her to display vitality, stability and competency? It’s about who you are, not programmes being run in church. How do you equip yourself for the long haul to finish well? How do you develop resilience? To avoid the danger of an empty soul even in the midst of ministry?  I have sensed that danger myself and have really felt God challenging me to take a fresh look at myself through these weeks to ensure that my soul is full and my spiritual resources in my relationship with him are sufficient to sustain me.

 

    It is possible to start well and fast in ministry depending on natural gifts but so easy to end up, especially in mid life, empty and disillusioned by the sheer impact of constant ministry. There is a time to stop doing the visible work and concentrate on the invisible part of you.

 

      He begins by encouraging the grasping of a big picture view of life. Conversion as a daily ongoing process as well as a definite one time commitment to Christ; character development through spiritual disciplines; calling being clear at every season of life; and contribution of a developed giftedness.

 

     He continues with the importance of settling the past, dealing with those events that have impacted and shaped us over the years. Every decade has its questions and issues to deal with. In my forties the issues are about influences that formed me, how far have I come and what have I achieved? Big stuff. For all of us. We need to deal with the past, through forgiveness, repentance, gratitude for all God has done and understanding the lessons of the events of life. An examined life.

 

     These issues alone have got me thinking. More to come over the next few days.

 

Gordon

 

Gordon  McDade