From Fear to Hope

"The opposite of faith is not doubt, but fear." (Verna Dozier, The Dream of God, 1991)

These economic times are fearful. Organizations and churches are facing serious financial crisis and cut backs in staff and programs. In states and local communities, government officials struggle to make budget decisions that will likely cut funds for education, early childhood support, mental health, public health and other programs and services that support some of our most vulnerable citizens. Nonprofits, United Way agencies and churches that depend primarily on individual and corporate giving are seeing huge discrepancies in income. Anxiety is high. Every day on the news you hear of an increasing unemployment rate and everyone knows someone who has been affected by recent job loss. With increased fear there may also be an increase in conflict - in families, in churches, in workplaces. Fear tells us to flee or fight . . . to hunker down, hide, escape or to attack. Faith tells us to hope and to create.

Faith is (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/faith)

• having confidence or trust in something or someone
• belief in God
• belief in anything
• the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person or belief

Faith is not intellectual or physical – it is spiritual. It is rooted beyond our physical response of fight/flight and beyond our analytical response of pros and cons. Faith in God, faith in yourself, faith in your company or your church or your family, faith in friendship, faith in community, faith in our government, faith in humanity, faith in possibility, faith in the future, faith . . . is what moves us from fear to hope. And hope is what inspires creation. And creation births new life, new ideas, new solutions, new growth, new innovation, new reasons to have faith. Hope is the motivation to stay connected without fighting or fleeing. Hope is the avenue to intentional rather than reactive responses to the crisis. Hope gives reason to work for something better. Hope gives strength to endure change and the time of chaos that always precedes the new beginning.

Keep the faith!

On the Cutting Edge: Best Practice in Organizational Planning & Coaching

I have been fortunate throughout my career to be surrounded by some of the most cutting-edge, best practice leaders in human services in North Carolina:

• Community Partnerships (then Specialized Services for Children) was one of the first programs in the area to provide support for preschools in creating fully inclusive environments for children with significant developmental delays and disabilities . . . when others were still saying it couldn’t be done. http://www.compart.org/
• The Orange County Partnership for Young Children, was an early leader in the Smart Start initiative to improve the quality of child care and increase accessibility to early childhood education and family support services so that children arrived at kindergarten ready for success. Smart Start, now a state-wide program, has won national awards for its proven success and is being replicated in many states across the country. http://www.orangesmartstart.org/
• Though the mental health system in NC has faced unquestionable struggles, Durham County was at the front of the line bringing together community partners to develop a nationally recognized System of Care for struggling children and youth. In collaboration with schools and the criminal justice system, youth were kept out of detention facilities at an amazing rate and surrounded by evidence-based community services allowing them the opportunities to get healthy, redirect their lives, and stay at home with their families. http://www.durhamcenter.org/
• PLM Families Together is currently the only program of its kind in Wake County, providing short-term housing for homeless families with an 80% success rate of families obtaining permanent housing. At PLM Families Together, families stay together – even Dads and teenaged sons – because they provide apartments rather than group living. And they believe in the power of families being together in tough times. http://www.plmft.org/

Now I continue this tradition in joining organizational development consultants and coaching professionals who have discovered the cutting-edge of appreciative inquiry/appreciative coaching.

The basic concepts:

1. Where we focus and how we use language creates our reality – so let’s put our focus on what we want to work (our vision) and the assets and resources we have to move us there, rather than on what isn’t working and what we need but don’t have!
2. Emotions, both positive and negative, tend to be contagious. Recent research in emotional intelligence and positive psychology shows that positive emotions can be antidotes and even undo the effects of negative emotions (Sara Orem, Jacquelie Binkert & Ann Clancy, Appreciative Coaching, 2007). Plus, positive emotions open the doors to creative thinking, intrigue and curiosity as well as feelings of safety allowing a person or group to explore in deeper more productive ways.
3. As all researchers, evaluators, therapists and interviewers know, questions drive thinking processes! Asking the right questions makes all the difference in the world and can lead to a powerful critical thinking process bringing new meaning to past experiences, new understandings about today’s reality and new excitement about the future dream.
4. Our lives and the lives of our organizations carry the powerful success stories that we need to move into the future we strive for.
5. Our vision of the future guides our current behavior. Hope makes all the difference in the world!

What does this appreciative approach to strategic planning or coaching look like? It looks like remembering and telling the stories of our successes, discovering and embracing our assets and resources, dreaming about the future and pulling the threads through that tie together our stories of past successes with our vision for future success . . . and then making it happen!

Big Change

I was once a new member of the management team with an organization that downsized from 200 to around 50 employees over a 3-6 month period while overhauling the entire internal structures of management, departments, functions, processes and even the basic purpose of the organization. The change was devastating for most - the loss of jobs, of friendships, the insecurity of changes in job responsibilities and new managers with new expectations. This organization did not have the luxury of implementing change over time - the change was mandated. Sometimes big change comes real fast.

There were some members of the organization who seemed to have a sense of stability, grounded among the chaos of the big change. You could almost see an aura around these individuals, linking them with others and creating pockets of stability where morale picked up quicker and business began to develop again. Talking with them, you would not feel the intense anxiety that pounded the pulse of the organization in those days. Instead, you would see a steady sense of purpose that transcended the immediate tensions connecting solid values from the past with hopeful glimpses of the future.

Wherever these pockets of stability resided, change moved more readily.

What a paradox, that within stability, change is more readily embraced – even big change.

Learning Leadership Through Rollerblading

I am learning to rollerblade at age 41! My husband and kids gave me new skates for Christmas. They were not out to get me; I actually had skates on my list. With all the hoopla around the holidays I finally had an opportunity to try them out a few days ago.

I chose a smoothly paved walking trail that seemed to be on flat ground. First my daughter, and then my husband, walked along beside me, holding my hand as I wobbled fiercely and scrambled to regain my balance. I haven’t done this since I was in high school and I was mediocre even then. I kept my head down, watching the ground pass under my wheels – looking up, I would stumble. I held tight to the arm that supported me at every shift in the road, a curve, a slight incline or decline, a bumpy spot. At first, I did not even notice as others walked past.

Gradually, I began to lift my eyes from time to time and see a little farther down the road. Slowly I recognized the rhythm and sway of my body that allowed for longer strides and a sense of stability. It became clear that I would have to let go of the arm that supported me and give in to the rhythm if I were ever to maintain balance for more than 30 seconds.

Wow . . . I did it!! Before the end of the day, I was looking forward and swaying from side to side, swinging my arms, feeling the wind in my face. My family cheered, and in fact, so did the couple across the way, walking their dog.

As I coasted to the bench and took off my skates, excited and tired, I thought– there is a leadership lesson in this experience. Here are some that come to mind.

1. I am not too old to learn new tricks (I mean skills)! Leadership is a skill, not part of your DNA. It doesn’t matter if a person is an introvert or an extravert, a thinker or a feeler . . . it is not about having a “leader personality”. The real skill of leadership is learning to listen to our inner self and act on that rather than reacting to emotional triangles, tangles and webs.
2. This would be so much harder if I didn’t have support. I might even quit or never really give it a shot. Smart leaders need strong people to surround us, support us and encourage us. A wise friend from my church once said – if you are leading a ministry all by yourself, you should re-examine what God is calling you to. God sent us out in pairs and teams, in community. We are not designed to work alone.
3. It takes courage, knowledge and trust to let go and look towards the horizon. I had to feel the sway, learn to trust the rhythm of my own body and then . . . I had to let go and live into what I knew to be right even though I thought I might fall. I knew I would never learn to skate . . . and we can never learn to lead, if we are too afraid to look ahead and trust our own rhythm. Each of us has a rhythm that is unique. We have to discover our pulse, the heartbeat of our inner self that tells us who we are – that place where God communes with us and gives us strength, energy, life, power, and direction. And then we have to let go and live into that rhythm.

The next time I go skating, I’ll take a strong support person along and I’ll know that I have to trust my rhythm and take a chance. And maybe in learning to skate again, I can strengthen my leadership skills along with my leg muscles and sense of balance.

Mary's Song - My Prayer

Oh the magnificat! The blessed Mary, a young child herself, chosen to carry the burden and the blessing of the Christ Child. She sings with joy and praise. I imagine her song to be both an expression of her joy and faith as well as a prayer, urging God to give her the strength to live into this call. It is both a commitment of faith and a prayer for faith that emerges from her continuously as the divine child grows within.

We are each called, chosen by God for an amazing and overwhelming task that requires a faith beyond our comprehension. Like Mary, we are called to be the carriers of the Christ Child - in our hearts and in our lives; in our relationships with family, friends, community; in our work and in our play; in our caring for others and in our caring for ourselves. Here is my song of praise, my prayer as I contemplate the enormity of this calling, as I live into my commitment of faith and urge God to give me the strength to live into this call. How would you make the magnificat your prayer?

Heavenly Father, Lord God Almighty, Creator of All Things, Abba – my soul glorifies you. My spirit rejoices in you my savior. The inner most parts of me, that which defines who I am, is filled with your glory even when I feel distant and discontented. You know me and you know the state of my life. Because of how deeply you know me and love me, you have chosen me. You have selected me, in this state that I am in, to represent you. You lift me high. It takes my breath away to be so near to your holiness.

Lord, you know that I feel unworthy. I am afraid and I am insecure. But you have such great mercy on me as you have shown with all the saints from past generations. I trust you. You forgive my inequities and you will me to put them aside, to open myself to your amazing gift – the gift you have given to your servant.

Mighty God, in a breath you create life . . . in a touch your power destroys. To experience your wrath is to be separated from you, scattered, without community, lonely. This destiny is sure when I am full of pride, when I separate myself from you.

But to feel your breath is to be created. To breathe in your spirit is to be filled with your love and your strength and your power. Allow me Lord; move me to be humble in your presence. Grow my hunger so that you may feed me. Take my hands and lift me to the place you have prepared for me. As you have promised, your faithfulness and mercy is limitless. You are my God and I am your child. Teach me justice, steadfast love and humility as I walk with you.

Luke 1:45-55 (NIV)
And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."

Blessings to you this Christmas!

Volunteer Leadership

Churches and nonprofits are highly dependent on volunteer leadership. I'm talking about significant, time consuming jobs such as coordinating events that take months to plan, participating on governing boards and leading teams of other volunteers. We lead, coordinate and participate in everything from fund raising, marketing, and quality improvement to delivering lunches, visiting folks in the hospital, and fostering homeless pets. My son and I spent one summer scooping poop at the animal shelter - of course we got to play with the puppies too.

Why do volunteers give so much, often doing the dirtiest jobs, for no pay? Yet only about 1/3 of volunteers continue after the first year of service (Corporation for National & Community Service, Volunteering in America, 2008). How do we keep our most valuable resource engaged?

Cary Cherniss conducted a study of professional satisfaction focusing on helping professions. He found that among Teachers, Nurses, Therapists and Lawyers, job satisfaction comes from meaning, recognition, autonomy, and remuneration (Cary Cherniss, Beyond Burnout: Helping Teachers, Nurses, Therapists, and Lawyers Recover from Stress and Disillusionment, New York: Routledge, 1995).

For volunteerism, we can look at the first three:

Meaning - This is the desire to help others, to make a difference in the world, to impact a cause. This is the source of passion and the link to an inner core value more powerful than the need for monetary compensation.

Implication for Leadership - Show the impact! Continuously let your volunteers know the difference they are making, not just in your opinion, but through real results. Don't be afraid to evaluate volunteer efforts and hold programming accountable to the organizational mission and values. When people give of their precious time, they want to know if they are making a difference.

Recognition - A pat on the back goes a long way. Though proper humility makes us say, "it's no big deal," it really is a big deal to feel appreciated.

Implications for Leadership - When recognizing volunteers, do it often and be specific. Instead of, "Great job on the fund raiser dinner!" try, "I was blown away by how many folks turned out for the fund raiser dinner. You really did a fantastic job organizing the volunteers and reaching out to new people who have never attended before." Public recognition is nice but I've found that what people really respond to is a more individual, personal response such as a hand written note of thanks (no one does that anymore!) or simply remembering to mention the details of someone's work when introducing that person to others.

Autonomy - Even volunteers (maybe especially volunteers) want to be treated professionally and given space to show their own creativity in their work.

Implications for Leadership - First, set the stage and get the right people for the job. Clearly identify the work to be done, identify how the work impacts the organizational mission, make a job description, and identify the skills needed to do the job well. Particularly for leadership positions, do not hesitate to screen volunteers carefully. This will not discourage volunteerism. In fact, setting criteria and limiting your positions will create integrity within your volunteer program. When word gets out, you may find yourself with a waiting list of volunteers. Second, provide ongoing training and open communication about expectations. Third, continue to provide support and access to resources and information that can help the volunteers do their job better. Finally, keep up the communication and keep an appreciative focus. Have a regular check in to let volunteers know what you are observing, to give appreciative feedback and to encourage their feedback as well.

Volunteer leadership is no different from simply good leadership. People want to follow a good leader. One who engages the organization in making a difference; one who appreciates those who support the cause and lets them know it; one who communicates clear expectations and sets the stage for positive results, getting the right people in place to do the work and supporting their efforts.

Inter-generational Worship - Can we do it?

Let me tell you about this book I've been reading, The Church of All Ages: Generations Worshiping Together (Howard Vanderwell, editor, Alban Institute, 2008).

As Mark and I raise our children, Lane (10) and Duncan (14), we want them to be in worship with us. Now I have to admit, I've enjoyed opportunities to worship over the years without crying or pulling children and have often skipped the Great Easter Vigil because of the kids' bedtime. However, I have also been deeply transformed by my son's description of the Eucharist at age 2 - "you just put Jesus in your mouth and then he goes down inside you and fills you up." And, I continue to encounter God in conversations with my children after church when they apply the message of the sermon to what is happening in their lives or when my daughter dances to the praise music at the end of the service, or my son chooses to attend the solemn Ash Wednesday service of repentance. So, as a Congregational Consultant and as a Mom, I was impressed with this book and the authors' suggested possibilities for inter-generational worship.

"Inter-generational worship is worship in which people of every age are understood to be equally important."

When we think of diversity, the immediate association is typically related to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, political views, religious views, or even economic class. Vanderwell et al talk about diversity of generations -bringing together the young child and the retired businessman, and all those in between, together in worship. Although many churches have turned to special services for children and special services for youth - even whole congregations that target young people with concert like music and coffee shops in the foyer while others stick firmly to tradition - although many churches have moved in this segregated direction, a great message is missed when we divide ourselves in this way. Young children need to see their parents worship. They need that example of Godly devotion. All of us need the fresh challenge of new ideas that erupt from teenagers and young adults. We also need the groundedness and wisdom that comes from a lifetime of struggle and praise. Worship, as spiritual formation, is richer when experienced together.

The Church of All Ages provides short stories of inter-generational worship that is formative and personal and powerful. Each chapter focuses on practical guidance for moving towards a more generationally diverse worship from The Power of Telling a Story to The Power of Preaching to All Ages and a step-by-step guide to Worship Planning in a Church of All Ages.

Here are a few excerpts that spoke to me:

• "There are a hundred ways to clean a kitchen, unless you are in your mother's kitchen." We each have generational defaults that tell us that a particular way of being, worshiping, relating to others, or volunteering is most appropriate. . . Their way [those of another generation] is not wrong, but their defaults are simply set differently from our own.


• Congregations too commonly mistake strategies for purpose and hold on to particular strategies as if the practice were itself holy rather than a way one might approach the Holy.


• "As I think about the concept of inter-generational worship, I am allured by the beauty of the concept. However, bringing the concept to reality will be hard work, requiring a lot of wisdom and patience. Otherwise, it could be just another divisive matter in the church." from a personal story by Jimmy Setiawan.


• According to the metaphor [you are the body of Christ, and individually members of it, 1 Cor. 12:27], every person is essential. When one person is absent, neglected, or marginalized, the body suffers, and worship ceases to be inclusive. Worship that pays attention to all ages aims to capture and implement the reality of this metaphor of the church as the Body of Christ.


• One of the beautiful things about stories is that the best ones function across generations. The event structure of a story, like falling dominoes, attracts and holds every one's attention, even young children's, while the values housed within a protagonist's conflicting motivations provide nuance and mystery for those most experienced in life.


• We have learned that it isn't really style that captures the minds and hearts of teens; it is passion.


• First, the service must focus on God - not on fun or form, not on excitement or excellence, not even on being edified by the service, but on giving praise and glory to the triune God.

Let's not underestimate the challenge here! Bringing diverse ideas and perceptions together is always a challenge. One might wish for a template, the perfect compromise or blend of contemporary and traditional music and liturgy that other churches could replicate. But that would be missing the point all together! Moving towards richer diversity among generations is a journey that begins with a safe space and respectful conversations and continues with small steps towards inclusion.