tears

                   Not like me to cry much but over the last few days I have been reduced to tears twice, coming and flowing very easily too. Not like me, though I felt  comfortable crying them. Maybe I don’t cry enough.

 

     Still at the leadership Summit in Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. Just finished today. Both tearful incidents came in the course of the sessions here.

 

   One of the sessions was with Richard Curtis, writer, film director of Notting Hill, Vicar of Dibley, Mr Bean, interviewed by Bill Hybels about his heart for the poor and Red Nose Day. He doesn’t have faith figured out yet particularly but one of the things I love about this conference is the exposure to people of little or no faith who are all leaders and who can be learnt from.

 

    In the course of the interview, some film was shown of two little boys, living as orphans in a house in what was little more than a rubbish dump in Africa. This had been filmed for the American Idol TV show and involved Simon Cowell and the presenter of the show, Ryan Seacrest, visitin g these little boys. One of the little boys, in saying that he had no mum and dad, broke down into floods of tears. My heart was touched and I balled my eyes out, tears streaming down my face at their plight. I was so touched, so stirred to want to do something for that little boy and his breaking heart. Even as I write this, the tears are coming again.

 

     The other occasion was the last session of the conference today, which was about the power of inspiration in the life of leaders and followers. It began by telling the story of another remarkable boy, Patrick Hughes, for the US, who was born with no eyes and unable to walk, but who from very early on showed an amazing affinity for music, especially playing the piano. His struggle all of his life with his disability he has not allowed to hold him back. Just as great a hero is his dad, who works the night shift every night to spend the day with his son, wheeling him around in his wheel chair. The most amazing sight was young Patrick playing the trumpet in the school marching band, being wheeled around the field by his dad in the formation of the band, playing for all he was worth.

 

     When the film ended, the lights came on to reveal Patrick at the piano and he sang and played for us. Incredible. I cried. From the heart again. And was inspired. And grateful for a remarkable life. And a remarkable dad.

 

Gordon  McDade

 

summit thoughts

             End of day one at the Leadership Summit here at Willow Creek and lots to think about. 7000 leaders here filling the vast auditorium from so many nations, including quite a few from the UK.

       

   As with all things Willow, the value of excellence prevails, from the very first song of the morning “Revolution” by John Lennon, “ we all want to change the world” go the words, to the African childrens choir in the afternoon with their exuberant dancing and lively singing. The outstanding band for the day kept up a fairly rocky type rhythm with high energy praise, though, at Bill Hybels request turned their expertise to country and to blues without any trouble at all.

 

     The four sessions today each brought their challenges. Bill Hybels began by talking about vision to die for.  He stressed the importance of everyone owning a vision. The days of the unilateral dispensing of a vision by just one leader are long gone, what Hybels called the Sinai method. For a vision to stick and be achievable it needs to be bought into by everyone in the church and building ownership takes time. Time to consult, time to listen, time to refine. Willows just recently adopted 2010 vision took eighteen months to hammer out with many conversations and meetings over many months. I found it very reassuring that vision building is a long and at times challenging process.

 

        The challenge of the afternoon came from Marcus Buckingham, Cambridge educated consultant who worked with Gallup and now lives and works with organizations here in the US. Great communicator and really knows his stuff. His latest book is Go play to your strengths and the premise at one level is very obvious; we live in a world where we are inclined to play to and work on our weaknesses and not our strengths. He advocated getting to know your strengths and working through your week playing to them. What is it that, within your role, you love doing and what is it that you loathe doing? Keep a check through the course of a typical week to discover your strengths and play to them. Lots to think about.

 

    Moe to come over the next couple of days.

 

Gordon  McDade

 

Willow Creek

           Figured it was about time I revisited my blog just to let you all know where I am and whats going on.

 

    Arrived last night in Chicago to attend the Leadership summit at Willow Creek community church in south barrington, a suburb of the city. Delighted to be here to engage with  the leadership issue again.

         Romans 12;8 is a significant verse for me and for anyone with the spiritual gift of leadership. It says if you are a leader, you are to “lead with all diligence”. Huge challenge in that.

    Over the next three days that will be the challenge. The line up is stellar from Bill Hybels who will speak on Vision and on Inspiration, to Colin Powell and Jimmy carter, on leadership at the highest level. To Floyd Flake, the leader of a 23000 member church in New York city with an enormous outreach programme into their community, to Richard Curtis, writer of the Vicar of Dibley and Four weddings and \ funeral, on the issue of Global poverty.

 

    It should be stimulating stuff. Will pour out my thoughts on the blog over this time. Good to be back.

 

 

Gordon  McDade