Leadership - Planning with Passion
The Bible says that if we work hard, we can become godly leaders (Proverbs 12:24). I believe that. I also know that God is so gracious with us that He walks with us in our stupidity, foolishness, and immaturity. He disciplines us because we need it.
But God is also, thankfully, gentle and so patient with us. At a recent Bible study I participated in, a friend said she was struggling to be more loving (welcome to the club!). The discussion then moved to how we truly become more like Jesus. All the obvious answers come to mind (time in Scripture, prayer, godly people to pattern ourselves after). But as I think about it this morning, I think obedience and trust, too, are top of the list.
A quick question for you as we embark on TGIF day. Do we truly believe God is Good? Do we believe that His plans for us are better than those we can cook up for ourselves, and do we live with a passion and mindset that shows it?
A quick story. In the mid to late '90s, my legal career as a finance attorney was just getting started, and I had a secret weapon: Judy. Judy was well into her late fifties or early sixties (and I was 25 when we started working together). She was my legal assistant for seven years before she died of cancer.
The favorite part of Judy’s week was going to Bingo with another legal assistant named Karen. Karen and Judy were both chain smokers, and I don’t know how many smoke breaks they took during the day, but it was a lot.
Judy knew little to nothing about securities law when I started working with her (mind you, neither did I, really!). Judy was assigned to me, but she primarily worked for Mr. Ward (Howie was the firm’s namesake, an administrative law expert and an oilman). Howie, too, was a chain smoker who couldn’t be bothered to go outside, so he would close his door on the big corner office on the 30th floor of Home Oil Tower and puff away. The legal assistants had to take the elevator down (and I suspect they loved the breaks from our stressful floor).
In those days, we dictated memos and letters. Poor Judy had to listen to young Dave Bell writing to the Toronto Stock Exchange and the various securities commissions. Together, we did a million due diligence reviews of companies that were issuing stock or about to be taken over.
Judy, a victim, in my opinion, of a cruel divorce, loved her kids. Man, she lived for her kids and grandkids. It was all she could talk about. And every year at Christmas, she’d surprise me with not only gifts for me, but for all of our kids, too. She absolutely loved it when I brought my kids into the office.
I made two corporate moves with Judy: one to BDP (a finance and oil and gas powerhouse in those days) and then to Davis and Company (Vancouver’s largest firm back then—and we opened their Calgary office). I don’t know why Judy agreed to come along with me when I left that first firm, and I was shocked when she said yes. I thought she and I both would get in trouble with Mr. Ward. (Years later, Mr. Ward came and joined me at Davis and Company—Judy actually met him on a smoke break and convinced him to come over to my new firm—truth is always stranger than fiction).
Judy was a hard worker. She was really good at what she did. And she was loyal. Even at her age, she was constantly learning. I remember how many software upgrades we had in those days, and we had the dot-com boom, and the Securities Commission went from paper filing to all electronic filing. The legal assistants took the brunt of all that work and innovation.
Judy was always in my corner. She wanted me to succeed as a young lawyer. She was, in her unique way, mentoring me (the know-it-all kid from Saskatchewan). In hindsight, I wish I had been kinder to her, and I wish we had known each other outside of the law office. I wish I had bought her better Christmas presents.
Judy knew I was a Christian. In those days, I taught Sunday School, and late in the workday, I’d often close my office door and prepare a lesson. Judy sometimes got lassoed into typing some church-related material for me.
The big thing about 20 or so years ago in Baptist circles was The Purpose-Driven Life, by Rick Warren. I lapped it up. In usual over-exuberant fashion, I bought a case of the book and gave them away to oilmen and investment bankers. And I gave a copy to Judy. She was a big reader. She didn’t like it. She thought it was lame and boring.
A few years later, Kari and I went to Judy’s hospital room to visit with her just before she died. Judy was so frail, yet so friendly and so kind. We prayed with her before we left that day, and she was so sweet. We didn’t make it to Judy’s funeral because we were out of the country. I regret that.
Now, 20-some years later, I’m thinking of Judy this morning and praying for her family. I’m thankful for her and pray we meet in eternity. And I’m still thinking about purpose. In my Baptist circles, I know many who put more intentionality into what’s for lunch or planning for a week’s vacation than they do mentoring young people or Kingdom growth.
As Christian leaders, we have to be purposeful in our planning. We have to be aligned with God’s plan and obedient to Him. God desires that every single person hear His Good News and come to repentance, and to have a deep and secure relationship with Him.
Here’s how the Bible puts it, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9).
Christ gave His life for our sins (Galatians 1:4). God planned the Rescue Mission with purpose and passion. I want to encourage you this morning that God loves you and has a great plan for you. Let’s be intentional in how we mentor and encourage people of all ages.
Lord Jesus, please help us to passionately trust You, for we know how much You love us. Amen.
Kari and Meghan - Meghan's 33rd birthday this week.
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