Leadership and the New Science

OR, “Who doesn’t own a dish drainer?”

Last night, we arrived at my in-laws’ house in Omaha, Nebraska after driving through bumper-to-bumper traffic in ice and snow for the last very slow half hour. After decompressing for an evening, I am today trying to “get my bearings” and prepare to be a help to my in-laws this week as they continue to cope with Paul’s dad’s ongoing medical issues. The most practical way to help, I am sure, is to generate and execute some sort of feeding plan for the seven people currently lodging here, a seven which includes three food-loving boys of my own. However, there is one obstacle in my way if I am to serve in kitchen duties here at the Brownback’s, and it is the same obstacle I have encountered in coming here for over 25 years. I just can’t decode the kitchen system—I don’t speak the same language and therefore I don’t “get” how to plug in and help. My mother-in-law is a fantastic cook with true gourmet tastes and a real keen eye for the latest trends in healthy eating. A few years ago, she and my father-in-law remodeled their kitchen with state-of-the-art equipment and she owns beautiful dishes, even for boiling water! It’s a far cry from my inherited knife set with which my daddy used to chop a head of iceberg lettuce into huge chunks meant to pass for salad and the sad microwave dishes I just will not throw away back home in Texas. However, it’s not the equipment that slows me down—it’s the clean up process. In all this amazing efficiency and creature comfort, I cannot for the life of me understand their dish cleaning system! Of course they load the dishwasher and I can to some degree do that—although my assessment of what “will go in the dishwasher” is much more inclusive than theirs. But beyond that, they don’t own either a dishpan OR—and here’s the real rub—A DISH-DRAINER. In all these years, that plastic or vinyl-wrapped wire grid in any form or color has never appeared anywhere in their abode—even before the remodel. Instead, when the non-dishwasher dishes are rinsed (in the water collected in the beautiful stainless sink because remember there is no ugly plastic pan), they are turned upside down on dishtowels laid out on the polished marble counters if they are not immediately dried and put away. Again, there is no prepared place for them to safely shed their water residue into the surrounding atmosphere while I do something more important than focus on the kitchen…did I mention there is no dish drainer?

I do realize that I’m straining at a gnat here—I do have that much objectivity. I know that on a very real level, it doesn’t really matter if the dishes are set out on a towel that eventually becomes wetter than the dishes were in the first place--a dish drainer is just my preference. I’m an out-of-the-box person, of course…why should the absence of the molded in China plastic object bother me? Nevertheless, this morning, it bothered me so much so that I heard myself saying, loudly, “WHO DOESN’T OWN A DISH DRAINER?” (And to any of you who do not, please feel free to weigh in later—or not.) As always, my line of thought sent me to a bigger picture, one which I have been captivated by lately. Yes, not surprisingly to those that know me, I made the leap from dish drainers to local church structure—and, to quote Craig Ferguson’s latenight routine, “Let me tell you why.”

In my book I present the “movable grid” concept that I evolved from a 20-year observation of church related to quantum versus classical physics. It is simply this: In the real world (which is a fleeting manifestation of a huge invisible world of truth), it is impossible to build a “GRID” large enough and wise enough to prepare for every possible contingency. We have tried to (and thought we could) do so in modern days gone by—drawing flow charts and creating manuals and policies—structuring for growth, doing the math, planning the work and working the plan. Though Jesus will never be banished from hearts truly seeking Him, we have still managed to build churches that are more institutions built in His honor than they are channels to capture His life! What I propose (and it lines up with the way the universe works), is that we give up the notion that we can figure it all out ahead of time and choose to let our desire for control die as we agree to be happy with a reduced “grid”: shrink our structures and allow them to breathe, realizing that their purpose is to capture and release life-flow, rather than contain it. I call it, simply, the movable grid (and my friend Jason Blue is teaching me that it also happens to be an emergent software design philosophy no less).

For at least five years, I’ve been actively using this concept to lead anything I’m in charge of: First, discern where the life-flow is—ask “Where is the energy, the inspiration, the grass roots excitement in people? Where does the passion want to flow?” THEN, create a small, flexible plan to facilitate the release of that life-flow—a movable grid. Don’t carve it stone and make a manual with a marketing plan, ready to change the church world—rather, humbly agree to participate in the larger Kingdom process trying to emerge by having eyes to see just enough structure to spark a flurry of life! (The good news is it works because this is the way life works and the way “messy” people in groups actually work!) Rather than applying an artificial structure to the process of doing church, we are participating with God, even in our planning—the divine cooperation that the Gospel offers is being lived out, not just in our personal lives, but in our corporate interactions! I’m sold—it’s the way it should be in local church!

At the Abbey Church, for years we have been resisting the notion that we must build a big and impressive grid. Voices from well-meaning people, and at times from our own flesh, have rung out around us, “You’d grow if only you would institute this program….or get organized…you just need someone administrative!” At times the noise was maddening—because sometimes our church landscape looked indeed like random chaos—at least on a practical plane. But we felt like there was an ark of God’s presence we were carrying and we dared not, like Uzzah in the Old Testament, reach up and try to steady it in our own strength (he died, by the way). We just couldn’t borrow a program of management; rather we were birthing a philosophy of leadership. We had to let the “Lazarus” die, rather than heal him, so that God could pull off a resurrection!

I feel, however, as we round the corner into 2009, that we have shifted seasons, and this brings me back to the dish drainer. This new style of leadership that I am advocating is NOT just passivity (as those with a modern mindset have often misunderstood it)—it is NOT THE ABSENCE OF ALL STRUCTURE. It never has been. It is rather, THE PRESENCE OF STRUCTURE THAT MANIFESTS FROM LIFE! THERE ARE STRUCTURES IN VARIOUS AND WONDERFUL FORMS—there really are some grids; there are a few small and unassuming lines to be drawn! Please, by all means, invest in a ten dollar dish drainer!! (Ironically, as I went to refill my coffee cup just now, a sign and a wonder had occurred in this Omaha kitchen: For the first time, someone had placed a plastic serving tray under the dishtowel on which the most recent dishes were draining—thus at least marking off the area to some degree, even if not providing air flow to speed the process of drying. The message is clear: IF WE ALLOW IT, STRUCTURE, TOO, WILL EMERGE ON ITS OWN.) I have spent years coaxing people to dare to let go of their massive attachment to precisely defined comprehensive structures, but I have never done so with a goal of anarchy but rather simply FLOW!

Although I’m not sure, I suspect that the reason Peg and Eldon never bought a dish drainer is two-fold: First, it looks ugly on the counter and second, a dish drainer seems “germ-y,” at least in some people’s minds (although I’d wager that the dishtowels are no better on either count, but there I go again…). In other words, there is a purist mentality that just doesn’t consider that the dirty work of clean-up needs to be prolonged or immortalized as a kitchen fixture. The kitchen should only have two modes: cooking and totally clean, with no in-between. On the other side of the divide from the people holding on to structures as if they are God Himself, is the potential of developing a new breed of Christian purists who are so afraid of structure that they allow nothing at all to manifest. If it even smacks of organization, they will be tempted to strike it down as “religious”. (Let’s be gentle on them, though: they are reacting to the old system where structure is god. Many of them have had their best dreams and visions choked to death by self-absorbed participants in the hierarchy that is not the real church). They are, in a word, as afraid of ANY GRID, as the modern hold-outs are of NO GRID! The culprit, on both sides, is simply fear—in insidious combination with its cousin, “flesh”! AND, the further newsflash is: If you want to do this church thing, you don’t get to remain a purist. People in groups are messy—always—messy like a manger in Bethlehem.

Last Sunday, we had an amazing service in which just enough of a grid was present to release God’s life-flow in amazing ways to people. We came with a plan to celebrate Christmas, but God came to the party and wanted to participate, and, as He does, he brought so much of Himself that the whole picture that emerged looked nothing like we planned. He refocused us on the amazing thing that Christmas is: the beginning of a full-scale invasion from heaven during which the Creator instituted a plan to completely recapture His errant creation! The “service” (or “meeting” if you are British or non-religious)—was amazing: it was the Kingdom of God manifesting in time and space—enough of a movable grid present to let it do so (thank God)! In the middle of all that, Kyle Parks felt He heard God say that there are those who are afraid of moving into the things God has ahead because they are afraid to leave their place of safety, but God wants to tell them that the place ahead is an even safer place—true safety is being right in the middle of the thing God is doing, rather than retreating in fear! Well done (hearing from God), Kyle. I believe it.

I want to proclaim that the best days of the Abbey are just around the corner. I’ve seen the future and it is good. Perhaps we have been weaned enough from the “church as usual” institutional format that we can now discover the corporate intention that the God of true order had for us all along. Perhaps God finally has the right relational ingredients at the right stages of maturity added to the colorful fabric that is the Abbey such that an undeniably clear picture is about to emerge. Perhaps it is just time—time in the earth, time in the heavenlies—kairos invading chronos TIME! Whatever the reason(s), I’m ready to proudly display our dish drainers, thrilled to say to the world that the church is not a pristine place of perfection and tidiness, but rather a WORKING ENVIRONMENT (in the physics, not the religious, sense of the word “work,” of course). We are alive, active and on the move, seeing a thousand horizons towards which to march armed with the truth! There are kingdoms of this world WAITING to become the Kingdoms of our God, but it is each and every one of us who will be the transformation-agents! There is much to be done; therefore, we are going to have to put some dish drainers out on the counters! It’s okay to have a grid when LIFE, MOVEMENT and PASSION necessitate it, but ultimately, we must never (and who would) fall in love with the dish drainer. It’s just a grid, designed to prevent frustration and facilitate freedom! It might even be ugly and “germ-y” but I’m truly thankful for the work it does!

God works in hearts, not primarily structures; therefore, structures that arise without the interaction of hearts have little validity. However, God has gifted leaders to actually lead, not just to wait, respond and live frustrated! LEADERSHIP IS BEING REDEFINED in the age we live in and the result of this redefinition is looking a lot more like Jesus. We are beginning to understand that leadership is about knowing where to lean and when to do so. It is “inspired focus at the time of need,” “wisdom to direct resources as they emerge,” and a thousand other things all more related to seeing than organizing as it is traditionally understood. AND, there is a call going out to rally around this vision TOGETHER. God is raising up a company of people who will help each other see—journey-mates discovering Kingdom leadership as an experience, live and on-line with God! (Beyond Maxwell and into Heissenberg!) It is the TRUE SAFE PLACE of church as God intended, rather than as man has tried to understand it. And it’s coming…and it’s here. I’ll close by simply quoting our friends from the rock band Delirious, and asking, “Are you ready?”

Party Quirks and More...

While pushing on for years towards the serious goal of expressing local church in ways that are both accurate and accessible, we have increasingly discovered the value of humor. Most of our gatherings have an edge of humor these days, but our Thanksgiving dinner has become our night at the improv. (I suppose the whole American evolution of a holiday on which we stuff ourselves with food and football in solemn commemoration of a harsh year’s bare survival starts us out on a foot of irony. Plus, we usually have several Brits present with us, due to the timing of a November conference we all attend, which makes for even more possibilities of tea and tax jokes along with some friendly national rivalry!) Modeling our games after the popular British-then-American show, Whose Line is it Anyway?, we have learned how to capitalize on our collective need to laugh at ourselves. This year’s Thanksgiving dinner was no exception.

Though I usually master-mind the festivities, this year I got to sit back and enjoy as the legendary mind of Tabitha Summers went to work. Releasing the next generation is a fulfilling experience, especially in this case. She went wild with the game they call "Party Quirks" and planned five rounds, each with participants that couldn’t have been selected more perfectly. If you are not familiar with the Whose Line is it? version, four guests with unusual character descriptions (quirks) assigned to them attend a party and the pretend host has to guess what each one of them has going on. The audience knows through subtitles so the fun is in watching the guests try to act out the situation and watching the host try to guess. In our case, Tab made a PowerPoint that told us the guests’ “agendas” without letting the host see. So, picture it: one by one the host answers the pretend doorbell ring only to have people enter who range from a “broadway star wannabe” to an “overdramatic detective finding ridiculous clues to a murder,” a “kindergartner posing for a class picture,” a “football player tackling in slow motion,” a “blind bird mistaking closed windows for exits,” or “random animals crossing the road.” As the person playing the host continues to ask the attendees, “Are you a….” they walk around, four at a time, squawking, banging, poking, bobbing and generally doing their own assigned things. Of particular mention was our British friend Alistair Beattie whose impression of a mouse running through a maze to get cheese will not be soon forgotten, as well as Reese Bailey who did a great job being “angry at the neighbors in the apartment downstairs.”

Eventually, with or without some help, the party hosts guessed the agendas of the quirky guests while we all laughed. I really wasn’t looking for a lesson or a poignant moment—just enjoying with the abandonment of someone who is not in charge! BUT, here we were in church and I couldn’t help but marvel at the metaphor. As I sat there watching, the “host” seemed to me like a church leader, trying to do something: throw a party beginning with that all-important step of welcoming guests properly, but the poor soul was completely at the mercy of the ridiculous agendas that each guest carried in. Whether it was an animal’s fear of becoming roadkill or the neediness of a Broadway wannabe, these guys did not show up to offer greetings like proper guests! Instead they wandered around the pretend party responsive only to the inner script they carried in the door. Some of them “did” their thing “to” the party host: tackled him, poked him, posed in front of him, pulled a hair from him for DNA testing…while others (the blind bird in particular) ignored the party host all together flying, running, banging all on their own in an effort to meet their “inner need”. Reese—angry at the folks down stairs—yelled and stomped on the stage, right in front of the baffled party host.

As I laughed (and I did really, really laugh), it actually seemed to be touching me. I realized that as a church leader I feel like I am (at least metaphorically) standing there trying to do something—organize something, host something, inspire something or just stir something—and often it just doesn’t work because the people in attendance have arrived with unmet needs inside of them, needs that are spinning off agendas and making them either oblivious or at least competitive with my “agenda”! “THIS is church,” I thought. People come as they are and fly, squawk, analyze, resent, chase, tackle, relive the past, and pursue a brighter personal future right through the call to change the world! Until you get a grip on what’s going on inside of the non-cooperators, it can be downright frustrating. And yet…I didn’t feel frustrated as I watched the Party Quirks fiasco! I felt strong appreciation and love for the strange and wonderful place we call church! I realized, in fact, that that’s exactly why I love the church so much! It is in this environment of unlikely synergy that God does His best work. God knows how to throw the party! He specializes in orchestrating the inner programming of His people such that by meeting their needs, He also builds the Kingdom. We as human hosts might at times feel mystified, but He is never caught off guard. (Somehow I seem to remember a band of distressed, in debt and discontented and a captain named David…hmmm…and these were called his "mighty men...")

Church is NOT like a business. At work you are expected to stuff your quirks (as best you can) and get your job done. You are not paid to relate but to perform (unless your business has a spiritual understanding of the workplace, that is—but that’s another blog entry). Church, however, when practiced as heaven intended, is not about performing at all. There may be jobs to do, but expectation and pushing on in spite of faulty inner programming is not the goal. Church is about coming as you are, broken but hopeful, gifted but challenged, and planting yourself in a network of Kingdom focus. So, your mixed inner bag cannot be hidden and should not be resented. Church is that strange and wonderful place where blind birds can stop flying into walls, but they need permission to hit a few now and then while they are healing. It is a safe place for people who have a larger goal in life than just being good “party guests” and not making a stir. And, though at times I’ll admit that I have felt like no one at this party is listening, I still wouldn’t trade my experience of being hooked relationally to God’s wonderful menagerie for anything!

Church really is holy chaos—even without any exotic “tangible manifestations” of the Spirit of God. This colorful array of people assembled for Kingdom purposes, is wildly wonderful in all their strengths and weaknesses—and how little they know it. They are God’s big tapestry spanning the ages—accomplishing His purposes via the most unlikely routes and candidates—a group of messy messengers with enough wisdom to come to the party but no idea what to do with themselves once they’ve arrived. God in heaven laughs with joy and I should, too, as their leader.

Why wouldn’t I laugh? Why would I instead resent wounded church people for their lack of cooperation? In those moments, I am afraid I have fallen back on the false but easily revived notion that it all depends on me. A sense of responsibility is good, but heaven’s measurements of success are often quite different than earth’s and if I have accidentally replaced some of my gold shields with brass ones, I will forget that the only One who can orchestrate this shindig is the Creator of the world and the Author and Finisher of our faith, who by the way, has also proclaimed himself the builder of the church! Even amidst corrupted inner agendas, God himself will show up, guiding people to assemble not just as bodies but as spirits joined for a purpose and truly meeting one another’s needs. It’s God’s party—God’s festival—God’s show, not mine. I am really just the host!

Joseph Campbell (Hero of a Thousand Faces) says there are two major pitfalls in every hero’s life—the first is thinking it all depends on me and the second is thinking it all depends on “them”. God give us leaders in church who are real heroes—those who have met both of these obstacles and reached beyond them. They are the ones who will no longer be angry over the party quirks or frustrated at their inability to wrestle control of the dysfunction! With a gaze fixed on heaven’s agenda, they will also look continually to God for the enabling of that agenda (rather than further “enabling” people’s quirks!). With all my heart, I believe that God is raising up these kind of leaders—hosts—ready to answer the door and receive the seeking masses. Our best days in church are yet to come! I’ve seen the future and I’ve laughed with joy! I'm not afraid of our "party quirks"!