LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Cultivate a deep understanding of yourself - not only what your strengths and weaknesses are but also how you learn, how you work with others, what your values are, and where you can make the greatest contribution. Because only when you operate from strengths can you achieve true excellence." Peter Drucker

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

Last week, I referenced a Peter Drucker book, The Five Most Important Questions that we used at our Leader Mundial Cohort here in Orange County.

As I revisited this book, and came across this quote of his above from something else he had done, and I've been thinking about it this week.

This month, I want to do a deep dive into the conversation around our "STRENGTHS". I'm not sure where this will take us, but I want to explore this with you a little bit over the coming weeks.

There are some great books and teaching on STRENGTHS, and I want to look at a couple of different approaches over the next few weeks.

The first comes from Marcus Buckingham. He's done some great writing and teaching on strengths so let me give you a simple overview from him.

Buckinghams definition of a strength: "a strength is an activity that makes you feel strong". He goes on to say "not something you're merely good at, and not something other people praise you for - but an activity that, when you do it, energizes you, draws you in, and leaves you feeling more alive afterward than before."

He points for four practical signals using the acronym SIGN:

• SUCCESS - you do it well or at least pick it up quickly

• INSTINCT - you find yourself drawn to it, looking forward to it

• GROWTH - you're naturally curious and absorb information quickly

• NEEDS - you feel fulfilled and replenished after doing it, not depleted.

Buckingham goes on to say that "strengths are not the same as talents".

An example of this in my life might be:

• When I "gather people together", it energizes me, draws me in and leaves me feeling more alive. This is a strength that I am able to grow and develop over time. The strength might be "Activating or Maximizing Relationships".

I think when Buckingham says that a strength needs to "energize you" that's an interesting description.

What strengths do you personally feel you have that fit this description?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Rest isn't a reward for work; it's part of the work." Leesa Renee Hall

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I want to continue this theme one last week. REST.

I appreciate Leesa Renee Halls quote above in that she's reminding us that rest and work must co-exist. They are essential to each other. There's another quote that says this:

"Rest is not a reward for great work, it's a requirement for great work to happen." (accredited to a number of different people).

REST and WORK go hand in hand and there's no perfect balance to it, there's just a desire to see them both co-exist because we need both.

This past weekend, Gina and I worked in our yard. We tackled some huge projects, and were able to get a lot done. Long days, one project leading to another, but great satisfaction with how everything came together.

At the end of day one, we both collapsed when it got dark outside, watched a show, laid on the couch, then went to bed. We needed REST after a long day of WORK.

The next day, Gina was up really early going after the next projects. I eventually joined her and we did another full day, just getting stuff done. Stuff that we wanted to do for a long time, but were now able to go after it.

Again, at the end of the day "we rested". Sore bodies, tired from the lifting, pulling and hauling, but satisfied with what was accomplished.

I wrote to you about my "sabbath experience" last week, when I was able to take a day and just rest, walk, listen, nap, enjoy space. That was pure joy.

This weekend was pure joy as well. There's a great sense of accomplishment that comes over you when you finish some projects. We're happy with the work that was done and we're now ready to start the week.

I wish I could say that we got everything done because we didn't, but we have a plan and a pathway forward to finish some things we started.

See the rhythm? It's some work, some rest, even some sabbath and when they are all working together I feel like I'm in a good place.

I think it's when we solely focus one one or the other that we get in trouble. The complete absence of REST isn't sustainable. The lack of purposeful WORK leaves us wondering what we're here for, and the opportunity to find and practice SABBATH on an ongoing basis keeps us connected to our Father and to ourselves.

What are you missing? Which one of these three is the most elusive to you? What are you doing to address that?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Sabbath is not simply the pause that refreshes. It is the pause that transforms." Walter Brueggemann

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I want to spend a few weeks this month just talking about REST. Some of these things I'm exploring, thinking about and working to implement in my life.

In reading Ruth Haley Bartons book, "Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest", I was challenged to spend some time thinking about SABBATH.

This isn't a new, as I've thought about it and admired people who practice this regularly, it just hasn't fit in my normal life rhythm.

Barton shares this thought:

"Sabbath keeping is the primary discipline that helps us live within the limits of our humanity and to honor God as our Creator. It is the key to a life lived in sync with the rhythms that God himself built into our world."

The quote above from Brueggemann talks about "refreshment and transformation".

Let me tell you about my Sabbath experiment this past week. I had a completely unscheduled day show up in my calendar. Gina had plans with friends, and while I had a list of things I needed to get done, I decided to "take the morning" and get outside for a while. The goal wasn't "Sabbath", it was simply a long walk!

I drove to Dana Point, charted out a long walk, and took off. The walk led me through town, to the top of a hill overlooking the ocean, then down to the beach. Along the way I stopped for a sandwich at one of my favorite spots.

I began the walk listening to a couple of news podcasts, and somewhere along the way I switched to a classic worship album from one of my favorite groups, Third Day.

Here's what happened on that walk.... I slowed down.

What began as a power walk turned into a replenishing journey that included about 45 minutes on a bench looking at the waves.

Here's the thing.... I had been thinking about SABBATH since last week, and I didn't know I would get to experience a little bit of it.

I can't tell you that some deep truth emerged or even some deep thoughts. What did happen was I got outside, experienced some of God's beauty, slowed down, and really enjoyed the solo time.

I got home 3 1/2 hours later, I decided to just take the rest of the day... it was so good. I had a short nap, I watched some golf, I read a book, and when Gina got home that evening I was feeling pretty good. What a gift of a day.

Rest - Space - Beauty - Solitude - Surprise - Replenishment - Time

When was the last time you experienced a little bit of Sabbath?