One Life

After Sunday lunch: the meal is over, you’re sitting on the sofa, tea in your hand and the chocolates are making their way around the room, your eyes are slowing becoming heavier and heavier. You feel warm and well fed, and sleep seems the most wonderful thing in the world. That’s what it’s like in the office right now…I mustn’t fall asleep on the keyboard.

We’ve just finished the first two YLC’s of 2010, and the week was an amazing feast of incredible times of worship, inspirational one-liners and moving testimonies from seasoned leaders. I was amazed not only by the remarkable speakers who had led in all different circumstances, but also by the young leaders who were up for the challenge and adventure that comes when we dare to follow Jesus.

When I wasn’t running around with muffins or orange juice or piles of paper, I found myself scribbling down wise words: no decision is the worst decision; it’s not how you look but who you are. I found out even the Bishop doesn’t always want to get up and pray in the morning. I got to talk to leaders, young and not so young, about the things that inspire them and the things that they dream.

So after all the excitement, I get to sit here and think over it all. Unfortunately, the Onelife office is unusually warm. One thing I would say…if you haven’t gotten involved in one of the conferences yet, make sure you do. Do you ever regret Sunday lunch?

I picked up this article yesterday in a slow moment; I am no sportsman by any stretch of the imagination, but it fascinated me. The author was a professional cricketer, and a good one too – don’t ask me his name. He was musing over the dangers of being too professional; he described the first time he played as a pro…he said it was the first time playing cricket wasn’t fun!

Being ‘professional’ has become very much an in-thing at the moment. We want techniques, in depth action plans, strategic planning, values, objectives; the cricketer talks about how his first two weeks as a pro were spent not with the ball and bat, but with the board room and the ‘big picture.’

And I totally understood where he was coming from! Of course there is nothing wrong with the professional approach to work – there is no denying it works, and works well! But there is a danger that all the fun, creativity and spontaneity of human beings is lost. Sometimes the way to bring the best out of people is to get out of their way! But it’s something I’ve found in the last month working here at Onelife – its odd to have it be my JOB. I find my work slips easily into just what must be done, in the way it must be done, when it must be done. It’s so easy to lose sight of the ‘why’ – that I do this because seeing young leaders lead gives me goose bumps; because it makes me feel like myself; because Jesus loves it.

A seasoned cricket coach put it this way – he wants his professionals to feel like amateurs. I guess that’s it: the best way is to work it like a pro and love it like an amateur.

Staff meetings are usually boring things…or so I’m told. I can imagine they can be pretty painful at times! But the staff meeting I just left was actually quite inspirational. It was amazing to sit and listen to those seasoned leaders who have been doing the stuff for so long – wisdom just oozes out of them and makes puddles on the floor.

This morning a couple who have been serving the church for years announced that they were moving on, and even though I don’t really know them, I was moved. There is something very beautiful in finishing well. They have the respect and honour that is due to those who have been faithful in their service. They have seen great fruit, and leave the ground still full of life for those who follow. I have nothing more to say, really, other than the fact that I want to be like them.

In December I had the fortunate experience of being invited to the YOPEY awards (Young People of the year), because Jacob, my Godson, had made the finals after being nominated by his teacher. The tension rose throughout the night as each finalist was profiled and we were all encouraged and amazed by the young people on stage. The local MP clapped, the press took photos. The moment came for the ‘Oscars’ style drum rolling envelope opening, and sadly Jacob didn’t win! We were all dutifully told that everyone was a winner because young people were getting positive press, to which we all smiled and agreed and covered up the competitive edge that felt the disappointment!

I was struck by the fact that so many of the finalists were there partly because of their active involvement in local churches. It got me thinking about all of you who are involved in leading across the country, and the massive impact you are making bit by bit. Many of you deserve a nomination so that’s what we will do! There was a moment in Onelife’s development when we thought about running a ‘Young Leader of the year’ award, but it seems far better to refrain from setting up our own thing and get you all nominated for YOPEY, where the profile of your transformational leadership will impact the UK even more!... watch this space…

I’ve just got back from Scotland – I had an amazing time up there, visiting Queen’s Park Baptist Church in Glasgow. The Scots are incredible, and God really is good everywhere you look!

I did find the whole northern adventure a little scary…I was going somewhere I’d never been to do something I’ve never really done before. And I’ve been thinking about that verse in Deuteronomy about loving the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength - what does it mean to love God with all your strength? Maybe it’s that you spend yourself and your energy on him, to love him and follow him courageously, when it takes guts. To do hard things.

I’m so grateful that I got to go north, because Glasgow a place where God is doing stuff, and I’ve had the chance to go and be a part of it all. I had the chance to do something hard. And I found other people who love God with all their strength, with all the courage their hearts can muster.

Let’s do it too – live with courage.