I can remember a conversation of seven years ago, just as if it was yesterday. The words up to the punch line faded within moments, however the punch line has forever stayed with me.
The problems of work were completely out of control. My efforts to coral them were clearly failing, regardless of the number of hours I put in. At some point, I came to my senses and sought help from my boss. I came in to his office with reports, analysis, and problems. As I outlined each, one by one, he kept repeating the same question.
“What is the process that you are going to use?”
I did not have a ready answer for him; in fact, I was not even sure what he meant by the question!
We kept going in a circle. I would present a problem. We would discuss the issues, sensitivities, and alternatives, and then Michael would come back to the same question.
“What is the process that you are going to use?”
Finally, in sheer frustration, I sputtered something about not knowing or understanding the question. With patience that defied my understanding the gentle reply came.
“What steps are you going to take so that the next time this problem comes you, or anyone else in your place, knows exactly what do to in solving the opportunity?”
Life is full of challenges and wicked problems. At each turn, I find people in pain, struggling to deal with something that blocks real living. Some argue that pain and suffering is real living, and in a reality sense I do not even want to argue that point. I would gently observe that God never intended for us to experience pain, uncertainty, or fear. We are created to enjoy, learn, and grow. We are created to worship and celebrate (redundant words)! Anything else is stressful to our self and body.
Today our devotion is our personal process. The steps determine the destination.
“A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.” (Proverbs 11.27)
