Thursday, January 17
A Leadership Clearing…
I’ve always been a big fan of the writings of Mike Yaconelli. He wrote ‘The Back Door’ in each month’s Wittenburg Door years ago, and wrote at least two books, ‘Dangerous Wonder’ and ‘Messy Spirituality’ before he died in an auto accident in 2003.One of his writings in the Door has had a powerful impact on me for years. It’s entitled ‘Clearings’. (A section of it is below. You can read the whole article here)
I am "tromping" through the years of my life, half crazed and blind, looking for a clearing, longing for a clearing, desperate for a place where life can stay put for a moment.Somewhere along the line of ministry I began applying this ‘Clearings’ concept to leadership and, specifically, leadership retreats. In fact, ‘Clearings’ is what I have called ‘get-a-ways’ for leaders for the last 15 years or so…
Apparently (and this should come as no surprise), I have to be half crazed and blind before I am willing to do anything about that which makes my life half crazed and blind. Apparently, I have to experience density before I look for a clearing. I am beginning to understand that life is not so much a search for answers, as it is a search for clearings. Clearings are the required stopping places in our lives when our lives get to be too much.
A clearing is a place of shelter, peace, rest, safety, quiet, and healing. It is a place where you get your bearings, regroup, inspect the damage, fill out the estimate and make the repairs. It is the place where the mid-course corrections are made—where you can change course, even, or start over. A clearing is a place where you can see what you couldn’t see and hear what you couldn’t hear.
Having a time and a place as leaders to come to a stopping place, to find a place to ‘regroup, inspect, where you can change course, where you can see what you couldn’t see and hear what you couldn’t hear’ is crucial in any organization.
I’m leaving in just a few minutes for our 2nd Clearing as Crossings with 14 other amazing leaders. I’m so excited. These are incredible times with God and each other being attentive to God’s dream for our faith community.
Mark Nelson at 11:08 AM 3comments
3 Comments
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at 11:51 AM
jason said... that's great...have an awesome time...i look forward to what God will do at Crossings in 2008!
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at 10:00 PM
said... Mark,
Don't know whether to be glad for or envious of you. My life needs a clearing just about now. Thanks for posting the excerpt and link to the Yaconelli article. It will get me started.-
at 1:19 PM
Brad Smith said...
This serves as a great reminder to me as i begin to lead the ministry here. I must not forget the importance of finding space and time and opportunity for clearing, both personally and for our staff and leaders. Thanks for the reminder...and for all the other great modeling and teaching you have done for me over the years!