The opening thought came to me during my morning devotion yesterday.
COVID-19 has totally disrupted the world and all of our “little worlds” within the big world.
For most, the emotion of the day is fear associated with the discomfort and anxiety felt in waking up and taking another step into the unknown.
This time is unprecedented…at least for us.
I’ve been coaching on the topic of leadership for years and one area I place much focus on while working with leaders is the culture of the organization.
An organization’s culture is how they do things. It is the values and beliefs of an organization as demonstrated through its behavior.
It’s one thing to proclaim in a company’s vision statement, “We will be the best in the world.” It’s another thing articulating how the company will behave while striving to be the best.
Another area I focus much energy on when working with the leader of an organization is its strategic direction. I assist them in creating a strategic plan to differentiate themselves from the competition. It could be by enhancing a current product or creating an entirely new service line.
Whenever a company creates a new strategic plan, the plan ultimately impacts the company’s culture.
I experienced this first hand with my business back in the late ’90s. I had new partners with new ideas and new ideas led to a new strategic direction and the new direction was not going to be executed successfully if we didn’t change our behavior which led to us building an entirely new culture.
So what does all of this have to do with COVID-19/Lent 2020 and Peace?
Stay with me.
After taking a business through strategic planning they usually identify changes they need to make in their culture to support the new direction the strategic plan is taking them. When they begin identifying these changes, I warn them about a six-letter word that most people abhor…CHANGE…and I always share Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s grieving cycle which contains many of the emotions associated with major change:
Shock/Denial→Anger→Depression→Bargaining→Acceptance→Return to Meaningful Life
I then caution them that everyone reacts differently to change.
Some employees love it and get through it almost instantly, while others get stuck in the anger, depression, or bargaining phases and it takes some coaching to get them to the acceptance stage.
Others never get over the initial shock and/or anger, and they either willingly quit or the leader assists them with their departure.
My point?
The world is grieving.
We’ve never been asked to change this dramatically and quickly.
Its people are all in the various stages of Kubler-Ross’s grief cycle.
For those who draw their meaning, self-worth, and security from their jobs, possessions, relationships, or the comforts associated with knowing what today is going to bring–it’s going to take them longer to get through the grieving cycle.
For those of us who draw our meaning from Him and not other people, places, jobs, and things–we most likely got through the various stages pretty quickly. I know I did. I still have my moments where I find myself bargaining but that’s just me being human.
During this time of daily “unknowns” I keep saying the words of Corrie Ten Boom to myself:
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
As Christians, we are not only gifted with the ability to get over our grief and into His peace during this crazy time, but we are called to share the reason for our peace to those who don’t know God.
How well are you witnessing?
…or are you still grieving?
Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.â€Â
Journal your thoughts:
What am I grateful for today?
In what way(s) will I bring light to the world today?
What will I deny myself so I may draw closer to God and gain more peace in my life today?
Prayer:
God, I offer myself to Thee—To build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always! Amen. (Third Step Prayer – Chapter 5, pg.63, The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous)
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
