Category Archives: Leadership

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Eager Learning

As I was passing our school’s second grade classroom today, I heard the teacher ask a question and looked in the door just in time to see one of the second graders practically jump out of his seat.  His finger tips were pointing to the ceiling, his knees were up on his seat, and his mouth was curled in a circle saying, “Ooh, ooh, ooh!” That boy was so eager to answer the question he almost fell out of the desk. I had to smile, because I can remember being that kid in the desk wanting so badly to be the one who got to answer the question. What a wonderful picture it was of eagerness to learn.

John is a member of our congregation. He is a pastor. He is a college professor. He is an author. And he is a fantastic teacher. It’s because he is still a learner. While he works out, he watches video tapes of lectures in various disciplines. For instance, he recently watched one on the way the human brain works. John brought what he learned into a Bible class he taught and enhanced the lecture in a way that drew everyone in. He reminded us how incredible it is that God makes things in just the perfect way to serve their perfect purpose.

Then there is Stephen Hawking. He is the renowned physicist who is one of the world’s greatest learners. He used to think that there was a least a possibility that God could have been involved in the creation of the universe. In his most recent book he now says God was not involved in the creation of the universe. I wonder where he learned that?

Hawking’s physics are far above and beyond anything I could understand. I couldn’t even come close to arguing the finer points of quantum theory. But I have learned from God’s own Word that the more I learn about Him, His creation of the universe, His redemption of fallen humankind, His willingness to sacrifice His Son, and His deliverance of forgiveness into my life through Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, the more I want to learn.

Eager learning from God’s Word makes all the difference in everyday life. It makes complicated things much more simple. It makes helping others a whole lot easier. It brings peace, hope, and joy into my life. I am always eager to learn more. And I am so thankful for the eager learner’s of God’s Word who have taught me.

I want to be that eager second grade learner every day.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go teach a class called “The Bible” to a group of 30 college students. I hope my eager learning rubs off on them.

What do you do to make learning a priority in your life?

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Garbage Man Guilt

Have you ever seen boldness and humility work together to make a pleasing outcome from sticky situation?

This week the “garbage people” (one of them was a woman) didn’t take our garbage because we had all kinds of stuff piled up from our flooded basement. I went out to the alley and saw the garbage men down a ways and gestured to them like “why didn’t you take our garbage.” They of course gestured back with shrugged shoulders (at least it wasn’t a worse gesture!).

So out comes my wife who proceeds to walk all the way down to the garbage people, and humbly ask them to come back and pick up our smelly junk. They said they didn’t do it because it was more than the regulations allowed them to take. But Tammy boldly explained that the “junk” included our neighbors stuff as well.

A little while later they came back and picked up our garbage. When they did, Tammy went out and thanked them profusely…not only for what they were doing now, but for what they do all the time (see my last post: “A Dirty, Thankful Job”).

A little bold humility goes a long way. St. Paul boldly proclaimed the Gospel even in the humility of prison and personal problems. Jesus Himself was humbly bold when He dealt with the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Money Changers. Psalm 138 reminds us that when we call upon the Lord in humble boldness and He will answer us. He may not change the situation…but He will change us!  That’s what God’s forgiveness works and does. “On the day I called, you answered me” (Psalm 138:3).

Bold humility. It’s an interesting concept, don’t you think?

What examples of bold humility can YOU share with ME?

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A Dirty, Thankful Job

I have a dirty, thankful job…but someone’s got to do it. Thanking people can sometimes feel like work that’s “down and dirty,” but it might be even more rewarding to you than it is to the one receiving the thanks.

I recently read Tom Peters’ 507 page tome called The Little Big Things. Peters is one of the authors of the classic book, In Search of Excellence. In his new book he claims it’s the little things that make a big difference in business. And if in business, why not in the church as well? Granted, Word and Sacrament are not little things at all. They are the biggest and best things of all. But there are little things that we do because we are gifted with Word and Sacrament that can have a profound human impact, and even a profound spiritual impact.

In The Little Big Things Tom Peters asks: “How many times…today…did you ‘use the two words’? I.e….Exactly how many times did you utter: ‘Thank you’?” It’s a dirty, thankful job…but someone’s got to do it. Why not you? Why not me?

This past week I took Peters’ words to heart and I actually sat down and typed a personal letter to a college professor of mine who has had a profound impact on my life. I didn’t send an email. I didn’t text message. I didn’t leave a voice mail. I didn’t instant message. I wrote a full page, single-spaced letter, put it on letterhead, addressed it, and dropped it in the mail. (Aside: In this day and age of email and text messaging, don’t you love getting a personal note or letter in the mail?)

As I wrote the letter I began to appreciate more than ever the wisdom, guidance, modeling, faithfulness, humor, and knowledge that my professor and mentor passed on to me. Writing the “thank you” letter may have meant more to me than it did to him.  It helped me appreciate the gift of God that I have been given in that one man.

I bet I could write a “thank you” letter or note every day, and never run out of people to thank…and learn to appreciate even more the gifts that have been passed on to me by God through people. I don’t want to presuppose anything, but I dearly hope that the letter I sent to my college professor made his day. It would make my day to make his.

It might feel humbling to have to constantly thank other people. But “dirty, thankful jobs” can create good will, good effort, good grace, good teamwork, and even good friends, family, partners, and fellow Christians.

I now have a sticky note on the front of my computer that says: “Whom have you thanked today?”

Whom have you thanked today? Let me know. I’d love to hear about your experiences.

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A Bent Fork in the Trail

I haven’t wiped out on a bike since I was about 11-years-old, and was doing something stupid. As of today, I can’t say that anymore. I went for a ride with my friend, Marc, an expert mountain biker. I learned something about Marc. And I learned something about myself.

The trail we rode today was what Marc calls a “technical” trail. That means there are lots of twists and turns through very narrow passages in the woods. It means that tires can get caught in crevasses, handlebars can get hooked on trees, and bodies can fall off of bikes. Let’s just say this is the first time in my life I really needed a helmet. I fell off of my bike three times, one of which was a “header” into roots and stones.

As I write this, I’ve got a cut and two bad scrapes on one leg; a bruise on the other leg; a cut on my finger; a sore shoulder; a small headache; a scrape on my neck; and a sore sternum (which is a recurrence of an “old football injury”…no lie!). And that’s just my body.

That wipeout wasn’t too kind to my bike, either. It seems I may have bent the front fork. Marc said, “That’s pretty impressive.” I was proud. Then we finished the rest of the loop, which concluded with an uphill climb so steep that I felt every last one of my 47 years. But because my fork was bent, I couldn’t go on anymore. So Marc went and rode with a friend of his we had passed on the trail. I went home to nurse my wounds.

Here’s what I learned about Marc: Marc models the kind of leader, the kind of pastor, the kind of friend I would like to be. As we started, Marc said, “If at anytime you need me to slow down, just let me know. I have no problem doing so.” He put me, the amateur, at ease, and made me feel comfortable. I don’t know how much he was keeping it slow for me, but I seemed to be able to stay with him pretty well.

Not only that, but Marc was out ahead of me, vocally warning me about muddy spots, sharp turns, and narrow passages. I found out how nice it is having someone out in front leading and guiding the way. He even taught me things I had never known about being a good mountain biker. They are skills I hope to use again soon to improve my rides.

Marc was also able to temporarily fix my bike well enough so that I could finish the trail. A leader that has knowledge and technical skill is a true blessing. When things go wrong and broken stuff gets easily fixed (temporary or not), it keeps everything moving toward the goal of the finish line.

A good leader, a good pastor, a good friend, puts people at ease; goes out ahead to guide the way, warn of danger, and improve skill; and, to the best of his ability, keeps things moving toward the goal. That’s the kind of person I want to be. It’s the kind of person Marc is.

Here’s what I learned about myself: After Marc left to ride with his friend, I sat in the car and took stock of all of my injuries, my broken bike, and my wounded ego. I deduced that everything was OK. Then, before I even left the parking lot, I decided that I wanted to ride the trail again. Soon.

That trail will not conquer me. I want to improve my skill. I have the deep desire to improve. I want to one day lead someone else through those trails. I want to be able to feel the accomplishment of successfully finishing without falling. And I’d like, one day, to help someone else accomplish that, as well. Something deep inside of me is screaming: “Never say die!”

I want to adopt that attitude for my personal life, my professional life, and in my vocation as a pastor.

What have you experienced lately that has shaped the way you work, or lead, or live?  Please let me know. I’d love to learn from it, too.

Now…excuse me while I go take my bike into the shop.