Alan Fadling: Notes from my Unhurried Journey

I often lead strategic retreats for leadership groups. A while back, I crafted a question that formed the core of a day retreat:

What does leadership that is deeply rooted in an abiding relationship with Christ actually look like? What does leadership where abiding is thin to non-existent look like?

Here are a few first reflections:

When abiding is thin to non-existent, leadership efforts bear less actual eternal fruit as measured in transformed lives—my life and the lives of those I lead. There is a great difference between lots of people attending lots of gatherings, and many lives being deeply transformed. One biblical guideline that can help us discern transformation are the fruits of the Spirit Paul lists in Galatians 5:22-23. We are sometimes tempted to use them as a straightedge against which we all come up short and can become discouraged or hopeless.

Rather than looking at our lives at this single moment or as a project for which we have sole responsibility, can we ask questions like these about our progress over time?

1. Are we growing more selfless in our devotion to God and our care for others? (Leaders can sometimes care more about the meetings or programs they plan than the people entrusted to them).

2. Are our lives more and more energized by a growing delight in Jesus Himself that is not dependent on happy circumstances? (Leaders can sometimes be more moved by mere human drivenness, compulsiveness, “shoulds” or “have to’s”?)

3. Are our lives more at peace inwardly and relationally? (Leaders can sometimes thrive on conflict for its own sake, rather than seeking true peace)

4. Are our lives less angry than in the past. Are we able to bear under the inevitable hardships of walking with Jesus with greater grace and patience? (When leaders don’t see people and situations change as they have planned and expected, anger is often not far behind)

5. Are we seeing harshness diminish and genuine kindness growing? (Leaders can sometimes see kindness as a weakness, rather than a strength).

6. Are our lives marked more and more by active, engaged goodness—doing what is good for the benefit of others? Are our lives more virtuous and honorable? (Leaders can be sometimes be satisfied with appearance management [looking good] rather than growing in true virtue [being good]).

7. Are we becoming more reliable and trustworthy people? Do others see us as someone who can be counting on when things are at their worst? (Leaders can fall into the trap of expecting faithfulness from others more than from themselves).

8. Like Jesus, who was gentle and humble in heart, are we becoming less self-promoting and more willing to accept from God that in our lives which will not change? (There is often a tension between contentment with what God has given or allowed, and zeal to see change that brings our lives into greater harmony with kingdom values and patterns).

9. Are our lives becoming less out-of-control in relation to food, sex, and things, and more under God’s control? (Leaders can get stuck in unhealthy and even sinful life patterns because of a fear of letting their temptations and struggles be known in community)

These fruits are evidences of a deeper abiding in Christ, of God’s Spirit being more and more the guiding force of who we are becoming and what we are doing. As such, they are more an indirect fruit rather than a direct pursuit. It is better to say that we pursue God more than pursuing godliness. A pursuit of godliness can quickly become a cut flower that ceases to draw life from the Giver of life, producing a barren show of morality rather than a life rich in God’s goodness. Living our lives in Christ more intentionally day-by-day causes us to be energized and moved by His life–by His Spirit. Our lives and our leadership become more fruitful.

(A repost from April 2007)

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