Ponderings from Panama

RE: Saturday, August 20, 2011

      Saturday was a whirlwind.   I’m only going to be here a few days and I have a lot of things I want the team to see.  We visited the international headquarters, three churches, and two schools.  Add in lunch and all the “forever” commutes between stops and it all adds up to a long but productive day.

However, it is at this point that I want to remind you of an important “production lesson”.  It is this: Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is validate what someone else has done.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at my high energy teammates as they began to learn this lesson today.  Being successful ministers they were all used to going out and “doing” something.  They were chaffing at the bit, charged up and ready to go.

However, as the day progressed today’s production lesson began to sink in.  The activities of the day were not about them, it was about the dedicated people that we were visiting.  With limited resources in difficult situations they were accomplishing great things for the Kingdom of Heaven.  Our visit to see what they were doing was a great encouragement to them.  It validated that what they are doing matters.  Our visit was a reminder that someone cared and believed in them.

Bottom line we were doing what Paul longed to do for the church in Rome – “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”

My dear friend, I know that there are probably many things that you must do today.  However, I want to remind you that one of the most productive things you can do today is get the focus off yourself and on to others.  I encourage you to take the time to stop, look, and listen to what others are saying and doing.  Take the time to notice the contributions that others are making.  So many times, we are critical and judgmental, but if we knew what they are going through, we might change our story.

Bottom line, one of the most important things you can do today is encourage and validate others.  And by the way, the best place to start this is at home.

Remembering the “E” in B-E-S-T – “Beginning with my family, I will encourage those God brings into my life with appropriate words of affection, appreciation and affirmation”,

dlkemp