It’s been a week since the Orlando massacre. The national media is still hanging around our city, The City Beautiful. But I wonder how long they’ll stay. What will be the next big thing to steal the spotlight in the never-ending media cycle? Pretty soon they’ll take away their satellite trucks, their reporters, and their location-focused shots.

Then we’ll be left to pick up the pieces by ourselves. It isn’t the first tragedy to receive 24-7 media attention. It won’t be the last. Tragedies drive ratings and the networks and news stations know where their bread is buttered. But when the Attention Deficit Disorder of the American public and the national media flicks away from Orlando there will soon be another obsession.

We don’t live our lives inside the television. We live our lives in the real world. That means we have to continue to care, love, bring compassion, and share peace long after the world’s attention is focused elsewhere. It means that we’re not just dealing with images on a screen, we’re dealing with people who have feelings, who hurt, who care, and who need attention.

It’s so tempting to be superficial in a world with such a short attention span. But we can do better. We must do better.

Here’s how we can care more deeply when we’re tempted not to:

1. Turn off the TV more often. It’s meant to be sensational and it often distracts your attention from the things that really matter. You’re better off limiting your viewing.
2. Focus on the people in front of you. Here in Orlando it seems like everyone is impacted by last week’s events in one way or another. We may be 3 or more degrees removed from those who were immediately involved. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t others who are questioning, hurting, and crying. We can focus on those who need help in our own sphere of influence.
3. Listen. In the last week I have found myself trying to listen more deeply. When I’m out in public I try to actually hear what people are saying. It helps me to be more empathetic not only with them, but with the people I know and those with whom I have more frequent face time.

Though we so often find our faces in screens, to truly care we have to put them down more often. Though the media is often superficial, we need not be. We can listen to stories, pay attention, love more deeply, and look into people’s eyes.

In a superficial world, how do you show you care?

Challenges are a good thing. They’re even better when you have others to hold you accountable. Collaboration keeps you on track when you’re faced with a challenge. If you’re trying to accomplish something major enlist others to help you, support you, even call you out if need be. It’s much more difficult to drop the ball when you have someone else expecting you to keep it in the air.

Our church is working on a collaboration with two other churches. One of the other pastors has developed a 40-day challenge based on the red-letter words of Jesus from the Bible. All three of our churches are going to embark on this challenge beginning later this month. All our members will be able to sign up to receive a daily email that will have a Scripture passage quoting Jesus, a devotion to go along with those words, and then a challenge to carry out that day what Jesus has called us to do. Over the course of the forty days we will find a number of times for all three churches to worship and serve together.

There are really three levels of collaboration here:

1. The staffs of the three churches. We have already met to talk about ways we will work together and how we can help and support one another.
2. The three churches themselves. As members of the churches interact and get to know one another there will be a deeper bond with other members of the body of Christ. It will be a reminder that the church exists outside the walls of our own.
3. The members within each of those churches. When certain members of each church ask others how they are doing on the “challenges” it will create accountability and a sense of Christian camaraderie.

The more layers of accountability you can build, the more assured you will be that you accomplish something you set out to do. My wife, Tammy, and I are still working on the goals we set for ourselves this past January. We use collaboration to hold one another accountable. Since we know each other’s goals we can periodically check in with one another. We have also formally written them down and keep them in a prominent place, which is another level of accountability.

Collaboration is the leverage that can make even the toughest challenges a bit more manageable. When faced with a challenge we can often use all the help we can get. Collaborators push, pull, encourage, and provide incentive. Surround yourself with people who have the same goals as you. You’ll find that you will accomplish much more.

With whom do you collaborate to accomplish your goals and overcome your challenges?

This past Sunday we had guests from Pennsylvania at our church. It certainly doesn’t always happen, but this couple stood up at the time we introduced guests and revealed how impressed they were with our service. They were going to take ideas back to their home church. Following the service they told me one of the things they really appreciated about the service was my passion in leading the worship. Now you could probably criticize me for a great many things, but I hope that I could never be criticized for the way I lead worship and am passionate about it.

I would hope the same could be said of you and your work. I would hope that people see the passion when you fulfill the vocation to which you have been led. Lack of passion can kill momentum more quickly than you can even say the word. Lack of passion could be a deal breaker. Lack of passion can halt the forward motion of an organization, let alone your own career or pursuit.

So how do you show that you’re passionate about something? Here are some proven ideas:

1. If you’re not passionate about it don’t do it. Really. Stop doing the things you don’t love. It may mean taking a leap, but it’s worth it. John Lee Dumas, the host of the “EOFire” podcast tried his hand at a few things before he became a podcaster. He went to law school but dropped out. He tried commercial real estate but found he just didn’t enjoy it. On his many commutes to work he started listening to podcasts and came up with an idea for a new one: interviewing a different entrepreneur seven days of every week. He had found his passion, and now he makes over six figures a month doing it. Listen to him for just a few minutes and you can tell that he’s extremely passionate about what he does. He stopped doing the things he wasn’t passionate about and found something in which he now is.
2. If you’re passionate, prepare. People can tell when you’re not prepared. Passionate people plan ahead. They prepare for meetings, things they do in public, things that will be open to the outside world. Not too long ago I took the StrengthsFinder inventory. It revealed that one of my strengths is “Maximizer”: “Excellent, not average, is your measure…you want to capitalize on the gifts with which you are blessed. It’s more fun. It’s more productive. And, counterintuitively, it is more demanding.” Since I want to maximize things, and make them better, I feel the need to prepare so that all will go well and go smoothly. It greatly bothers me when there are public mistakes or things happen because people aren’t prepared. Show that you are passionate by your preparation. Professionalism is a key to drawing people in with your passion.
3. If you’re passionate, let your voice show it. A dull voice and dull speech patterns are the quickest way to show people you couldn’t care less about what you’re doing. When you’re passionate about something it flows from your brain to your toes and back up through your body to your heart and finally out of your mouth. One of my favorite things to do all year is to tell the story of Jesus’ passion and resurrection when that time of the church year rolls around. I’m passionate about it because I believe it with my whole heart. One of the things I’ve been able to do is read the story out loud from Walter Wangerin, Jr.’s account in his Book of God. If you can’t be passionate using those words to tell that story you’re going to need some help. Have excitement and expression in your vocal tones. People will catch your passion.
4. If you’re passionate, let your body show it. Like a dull voice, stooped shoulders and a slouched posture will show your lack of passion. In college I had a professor to sat in his chair and lectured from notes every class the entire semester. How involved do you think we, his students, were? On the other hand, I had a professor who actually stood on top of the desk when he was lecturing one day, without a note in sight. It’s not too difficult to remember the things he passionately taught us.
5. If you’re passionate, tell other people about it. Be an evangelist for the things that make you prepare, and shout, and smile, and sing. Don’t keep it to yourself. Your enthusiasm will rub off. The president of our congregation is passionate about our church. Every Friday in our weekly email he writes about the people doing things that make our church a better place, serve others, and are carrying out their own passions without even desiring recognition. His passion is spreading the passion around.

Seeing people passionate about the things they love makes the world a better place. What are the ways in which you will show your passion today? You may just change a life with your passions. And the life you change could be your own.

How do you show passion for the things you love?

An occupational hazard of most any leader is The Complainer. Complaints and complaining come with the territory when you’re leading out in front or pushing from behind. Complaints often mean a leader is doing something right. And yet the thought that you’re doing something right doesn’t always take away the sting or frustration.

The problem becomes partly my own. When I allow complaints and complainers to bother me, upset me, or bring me down I admit that it’s not helpful. Many years ago I worked with someone who used the old passive-aggressive tactic of telling me that “a few people” were complaining about me. I laid awake at night wondering what I had done. I began to have some health issues as these “complaints” wore on. I obsessed over what I could do to resolve the whole situation. Needless to say it was unresolvable because I’m convinced it was never true in the first place.

At any rate, it made me resolve to never (to the best of my ability) be a public complainer. I have studied the complainers that I encounter. I have tried to abate my own temptations to complain. As I have done these two things I have learned that there are three entirely more helpful and constructive things one can do instead of complaining:

1. Instead of complaining figure out a way that you can help fix the problem. It’s easy to open your mouth and complain. It’s far more difficult to actually figure out a plan of action to resolve the issue. It’s not easy but it’s far more beneficial for you, your organization, your leader, and other people to improve a situation rather than attacking it.
2. When you figure out a way to fix the problem volunteer to do it. Once you’ve figured out the way to “fix” a problem be bold enough to volunteer to carry out your plan. Speak to your leaders or influencers. Let them know you’ve noticed something that could be improved (yes, use that language). Then be the first to volunteer to carry out the steps that will resolve the issue. You have no idea how much weight that will take off of a leader’s shoulders.
3. As you attempt to fix the problem yourself enlist others to join you in fixing the problem and proclaiming the positive. Can you imagine what it would look like in your church, organization, or workplace if significant numbers of people would come together to create something positive? Can you imagine what it would look like if a critical mass of people in your church, organization, or workplace would speak out in a positive way? Can you imagine what it would look like if a large portion of people in your church, organization, or workplace would be the solution to the “problems” instead of the complainers?

If you want to see what this would all look like take a look at the philosophy of none other than Zig Ziglar. One of his most famous quotes is:

You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people to get what they want.

How can you become part of the solution today?

I don’t know yet if it’s the right way, but my Milwaukee Brewers are in the rebuilding process. If you’re not a sports fan, stick with me for a moment as I make an analogy that might be helpful in your own life. When it became blatantly evident after a quarter of last year’s season that the Milwaukee Brewers weren’t going to be anything near contenders, their General Manager started a massive rebuilding project. He fired the manager and brought in a new one. He started making trades one by one. And then even he stepped into retirement and the team hired a new General Manager.

Since then, the new general manager, David Stearns, has made no less than nine trades. Almost all of them have sent experienced players to other teams in return for young, well-regarded prospects. The Brewers hope that these young prospects will soon make it to the major leagues and have such an impact that the team will become a contender once again.

I began to think about how that is being mirrored in an interesting way at the church I serve as pastor. You could say we’re in a rebuilding process of sorts. Last year our attendance took a significant downturn as:

• we had numerous funerals of noteworthy, “pillar” type people in the congregation;
• a number of students went away to college;
• attendance patterns of some members, while regular, was not consistent;
• a few families moved away;
• some high school students’ attendance became pretty spotty.

Now it’s time to do some rebuilding, and we hope we’re doing it the right way. We have engaged in some things that feel like a baseball team in them midst of a rebuilding effort:

• We are encouraging our members to turn their gaze outside of our congregation and its own needs to the eternal needs of others;
• We are asking people to stand on the shoulders and fill the shoes of those “pillars” who have gone before (kind of like trading veterans for prospects);
• We are reenergizing our base by creating teams that bring joy and community through fun, service, and study;
• We are highlighting the things that are going well;
• We are communicating all of the above through media and social channels, both online and offline;

There are times in every life when there is a need to rebuild. It might be after a failed relationship, or a family move, or the loss of a job. Here’s what we can learn from baseball teams and churches that are going through rebuilding right now:

• Focus on the things you can control. Baseball teams can’t control the exact number of wins they’ll have each year, and churches can’t control the number of people in the pews each week. But they can control the people they put on the field and the people they place into leadership positions. When you are rebuilding, make sure you are doing it surrounded by people who have your best interest in mind and people who can help when help is really needed.
• Focus on the positive. Though the Milwaukee Brewers will not win as many games as they’d like this year, they have an opportunity to learn about the players they have acquired, and move pieces around as needed. In the church there is always the positive focus of the Gospel. In your life, negativity will set you back, but positivity will be the fuel that moves you forward.
• Focus on good communication. The Milwaukee Brewers have communicated to their fans that they are in the middle of a rebuilding process and that there may not be as many wins as fans would like. Our church is communicating ways to help people see opportunities to show and share their faith. Communication will help you make networking connections and emotional connections that will help you when you’re tempted to feel down or are in need of specific advice.

Rebuilding is not a bad thing. In most instances it is a good thing. It provides opportunities to learn, to grow, and to be stretched. Embrace rebuilding opportunities, and help others when you see them going through their own rebuilding.

What advice would you give to someone who’s in the process of rebuilding?

When was the last time you considered coaching to move you forward? The other day I had the privilege of enjoying an informal meeting with a professional pastoral coach. I wanted to learn more about what a professional coach does and how coaching could help people. The coach with whom I spoke made it pretty clear that coaching is a bit different from counseling. He said that counseling takes you from a bad spot and brings you to a better spot. But coaching is an intentional way to take you from good to great.

I’ve had some interesting coaches in my life. I’ve spent time on swim teams, football teams, tennis teams, and track teams. I’ve even had golf coaches. Each coach I’ve had takes a different approach. Some come alongside you and gently show you what you’re doing wrong. Others are literally right in your face barking instructions, pointing out flaws, and even praising your accomplishments.

One coach in particular stands out in my mind. My freshman football coach used every ounce of energy and fire within him to push me as a new player. I had never played tackle football before, but had enjoyed some success on our grade school flag football team. Our freshman football coach wanted to make real football players out of us. So he lined us up, held a big blocking pad in front of his chest, and told us to hit him as hard as he could. He meant it.

So I wound up and hit him just like he told me: as hard as I could. I nearly knocked him over. I’ll never forget his response. He regained his balance, roared with approval, and slapped me on the back. “That’s what I mean,” he shouted to the rest of the team. “Hit me like that!”

I will never say that I was a great football player. But my coach stretched me to a level as a football player that I had never known before. He used both fear and encouragement. He helped me to reach deep down inside of myself and find something I had never known before. I never knew I could hit as hard as I did that day. It paved the way for me to be a blocking back for my fellow running back who was far faster than I could ever be. I found my niche as a football player.

That’s all well and good for football, but what about your career or calling? My professional coaching friend made it clear that he wants to help good pastors become great pastors. He gave me some examples of how he walked pastors through issues, or programs, or simply a standstill in their ministry. He admitted that it was immensely satisfying to see his clients move forward both personally and professionally.

The key, he said, was asking questions that stretch his clients. He learned this skill by taking classes and becoming certified in his profession. In other words, he knows the right questions to ask. He doesn’t necessarily give advice. He knows how to enable his clients to move forward by coming to their own conclusions and accomplishing their own specific goals.

Have you ever considered hiring a coach? If you’re feeling stuck, or lacking motivation, or needing a nudge, it might be the right decision for you. A small investment now could make a world of difference in your life or career and take you from good to great. You will be stretched in ways that you never could be on your own. You could find your niche in your career and gain respect as a leader.

How has a coach had an impact on your life?