You don't have to look far in the music industry to see that the millennial generation think that they can change the world, shine bright, and make a difference.
Rihanna - Diamonds
This is a positive thing, though. We were all created to be creators that would dream up the impossible and make it happen though God's awesome power.
I take the observation in this article, that the millennial generation are hugely optimistic and look for value in a job in different areas to money, as a great encouragement. They're one step closer to their Creator. We are a generation that gets everything immediately: instant messaging, online shopping, 'likes' as instant feedback on photographs and videos that we share.
This means we know how to 'dream something up' and see it happen straight away. I went to a talk recently with Roy Crowne as the main speaker. He said that when we get dreams and visions from God we need to putting footing on them. In my experience, the longer you leave something without footing, the quicker it rolls away. So, a generation that has grown up with no bounds to the instant success that they can grasp has attempted their 'impossible' dreams and, in cases where God steps in, they have been realised.
Another positive to the mindset of the millennial generation is that failure isn't final. On social media failure lasts all of 3 days before it's been forgotten. This opens up the playing field for another try from another angle.
Something that could have been lost in the millennial generation upbringing is a strong sense of community. We're all the more cautious of people we see on the street. Are they to be trusted? But we've kept relationships going on social media that otherwise would have been lost. Just last week I met up with a group of friends, one of which I hadn't seen since the summer, to get a drink at the pub. We spoke about life and started straight where we left off from. These opportunities can play a key part in building that community element back up again.
We are not a lost generation; we're closer to finding our identities in God.
How can the millennial generation lead from a position of not being in charge?
"...in order to make anything better you have to think critically..."
Note the phrasing of this quote. The term 'think critically' is very different to the phrase 'being critical'. The latter brings a host of negative connotations.
Leaders within an organisation looking at how things can get better, and speaking about those, help the organisation to move forward. Those that keep it to themselves can fall into the trap of secretly wanting the organisation to fail: 'Well I knew it was bad from the start but they didn't do anything about it...'. This mentality is not ideal, or even helpful, for furthering any success.
Think like you're in charge, as if you're the owner.
When an owner sees rubbish on the floor, they pick it up. When an employee sees rubbish on the floor, they walk past and wait for someone else to do it. When you start making the steps to change what is wrong you project your feeling of: "This bothers me, I want this to bother everybody."
In summary to 'thinking critically' as an answer to the question,
Thinking critically = positive. Being critical = negative.
Danger = becoming cynical.
Image Source: Google
Jesus walked around with a towel not a clipboard.
Thinking critically is about finding out where you can help, not giving a score.
"Reject passivity... go make it better"
Passivity is allowing others to do things to you without complaining or pushing back (Google definition).
When we're not in charge we can begin to follow this trail of thought:
'When they get their stuff together, then I can get on with what I want to do, until then I'm going to have to wait.'
There has to be an organic origin to the way we make things better for furthering the success of the organisation. If we act out of spite and become negative about the things we are changing then we are being less helpful than if we were to stay passive. Spitefulness could lead to tension and stressful work relationships.
LIE: "When I'm in the leader's seat, then I'll have influence"
TRUTH: "Everyone has influence"
Passivity is not a good leadership strategy. If a babysitter was passive, the children would never go to bed, tie her to a chair and all she/he would respond with is 'please stop mis-behaving'.
"When there's something to blame, there's nothing to work on." The minute we shift the blame to someone or something else the problem is no longer our own. Just like with thinking critically we need to take ownership and not pass the baton.
"When I'm only waiting for someone to hand me something, I have the potential to become someone who won't be handed anything"
In other words, if we take ownership and start to show what we can do with what we've got then we will be handed more. But, the more that is on your plate, the less you will need to be handed because you've taken ownership and started making changes by working on the things in front of you.
Image Source: Google
^Parable of the Talents^
Focus on making what you have better, not making the boss happy.
'Give your best people the best opportunities, and your best people are those who make the best out of the opportunities they've been given." (para-phrased Jim Collins).
Sometimes it takes a small, enjoyable step to love someone. To give a hug, to share a smile.
When you've been hurt, though, it's not so easy, not so enjoyable.
L O V E
1. A strong feeling of affection
2. A great interest (and pleasure) in something
Sometimes there is little pleasure in it. Sometimes it becomes unbearable. They've hurt you, they've done it before, and now they've done it again. You tell yourself that they'll continue to do so. And why wouldn't they? They are still the same person.
Here's a thought: What if you're not the same person anymore?
The ability to love the lost and the hurt, at first, seems more than possible. I'm sure you could ask any number of people if they feel compassion towards people less fortunate and many will say 'yes'.
Everyone that has hurt you, that does hurt you, that will hurt you... they're fighting similar battles. Battling feelings of isolation, a lack of belonging, suffering in a love-draught.
s y n o n y m s o f l o v e :
friendship
involvement
enjoyment
tenderness
respect
passion
emotion
devotion
Love goes so much deeper than any of these words. Love doesn't have to be a friendship, Love doesn't have to be easy, Love doesn't have to mean contact.
a n t o n y m s o f l o v e :
hate
dislike
disloyalty
sorrow
unhappiness
misery
neglect
ill will
Perhaps you felt those words as you read them. Perhaps you've felt that someone close to you was disloyal, someone who you trusted neglected you, someone caused you unforgettable misery.
You need Love as much as they need Love. Forgiveness doesn't come easy; it's a love thing. Deeply know that you are forgiven by Love and you can forgive.
Acknowledging that Love plays a vital part in a restoration of an enjoyable life is key.
Living that out isn't always easy, but it certainly gives you a light weight to carry. A weight that doesn't exist because Love carries it.
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures. Love never ends."
I've had my share of evolving friendships, abandonment, rejection, corrupted relationships ever since I was small. But I refuse to wear those labels. I refuse to let the people that hurt me before taint me now. I stood strong knowing my identity in Jesus, in Love. And do you know what? Most of those friends, people who were vessels of hurt for me, I still love them. I've become the listener in my relationship with them. I share the most about me with those I choose to do so with. But I choose to be someone that anyone can share the most about themselves with.
I'm not the same person as I was before I was hurt; I get my strength from Love.
I wear labels of 'loved' and 'lover'. It is because I am loved, by Love Himself, that I can love and that I do love.
You are loved.
Say 'yes' to being loved, to being a lover. It's really worth it. A life in love is a life worth living. It takes courage. When you love in courage you are set free. When you encourage someone out of a darker place and into a lighter one, you are loving them. Love is light, in both senses of the word.
I'm not too sure how to describe how I feel about this week, but it's definitely positive! I saw a post recently which gives names and explanations to emotions that you didn't know had a name. But these were all negative so that'll be no help for me this week.
As it was a bank holiday this Monday, I started on Tuesday. I had a fairly busy day with a LOT of information to write down and digest over the next few days.
I've had fun this week getting to know different aspects of the organisation and I'm amazed at how many things run on top of the standard 'Sunday Morning Gathering'.
God's definitely been challenging me with some choices already, one of which I was lost for how to do even though I knew the right decision and wanted to go for it. And lo and behold a couple of days ago He handed an answer to me on a plate. God is good! Today I've been in the office preparing a few things for Sunday morning, networking with some people within the church and looking at some personal discipleship. I'm about 10 minutes into a video entitled 'John Wimber Signs Wonders1985 1/12 (Personal Pilgrimage)". It's on YouTube if you'd like to have a listen. Already some thing that has been on my heart recently is cropping up in the video. The difference between "Christians" and those who have a relationship with God.
In the next few weeks I hope to have gotten my head around some of the challenges and questions I'm sure this video will present and I plan on writing a bit of a post about what I've learnt from it and what I've found interesting.
A quote from the video that is already ringing in my head is that the 'study of scripture' should directly 'affect our behaviour' otherwise it was pointless study. This is quite the sweeping statement to make but it has a very valid point that when we read the scripture our hearts long for things that God longs for and this should, in theory, change our behaviour in some way.
A question to ask yourself as much as possible over the weekend:
What would Jesus do?
And if you don't know then look it up, the Bible is there for you to use in times of uncertainty as well as every day life.
