Right Foot, Left foot…

Right Foot, Left Foot…we live life moving forward one step at a time.

I recently listened to a talk by Jim Collins, the author of Built to Last and Good to Great.

He spoke on “Great by Choice” and compared companies and people who were disciplined with those who were …not so disciplined. He compared Amundson and Scott who both wanted to be the first person to conquer the South Pole.

Amunson’s team practiced every day…they did a 20 mile march every day. They planned ahead. They were very disciplined.

Scott’s team all died. They were not as prepared. They didn’t practice as much. They didn’t take enough rations. They did not have regular consistent performance, but chronic inconsistency.

Typically, the leaders who are able to step up and lead through a bad event or time period, are those who have been faithful and disciplined in their daily lives.

It is kind of like if you were asked to run a marathon one day. If you had trained, daily, you would be able to make it. If you had been happenstance and only trained when you felt like it, you would probably not do so well. If I had to run a marathon right now, I’m pretty sure I would have to stop before the race was over from sheer exhaustion and vomit on the sidelines.

In the end, a great organization (and a great person for that matter) does three things: It stays on mission. It makes a distinctive impact. (Would anyone miss us if we were gone?), and it has lasting endurance.

This makes me think of my husband, Brian. I am thankful in the history of VCNP, that Brian, has been a disciplined, enduring leader. I have seen him year after year being faithful in his devotional life, being committed to church, and to growing as a leader and in his relationship with the Lord. Even before he was a pastor, it was his priority to have a daily quiet time, to be in church every week, and to be a servant leader. He also got to bed early on Saturday nights so as not to be tired in church on Sunday. I believe God saw his steady faithfulness.

We must be faithful in the good times and the bad…be faithful when we feel like it and when we don’t feel like it. Pray regularly. Go to church. Hang out with other Christians. Experience, “iron sharpens iron”.

Go for it!! It may not feel fun, but long-term discipline pays off when tough times hit. Spend time with God; go to church even when you don’t feel like it. Interact with your small group. Practice your spiritual gifts.  Right foot.  Left foot.

You’ll be glad you did!

Blessings,

Thora