The picture was taken at the conclusion of the trip. The group was huddled around the sign designating the trail's beginning (and end).
They had hiked 53 miles from camp to camp. No too much food. No showers or facilities. Pretty rough conditions.
The one thing that came through on each of their faces in the picture was pretty plain to see.
Accomplishment along with satisfaction.
I asked my friend about that. If it was the feeling of accomplishment that was more important than the actual enjoyment of the trip.
He said on that particular journey, the scenery was so beautiful that the hiking was its own reward. Other times he said, it was more about the accomplishment.
After three years on your ministry team, do you suppose the members of the team share a sense of accomplishment? Is satisfaction written on their faces? Through the bruised egos of impassioned discussions around the table or the sacrifices that they made to be a part of the team, would they say: "It was worth it!"?
Or do we maybe make it too easy? For any ideas generated, do we implement them along with a few others without allowing the team to take ownership?
Do you ask them to give anything up to accomplish the task so they we feel it was worth it?
Maybe be don't feel like our mission is worth the trouble sometimes.
And most importantly, we often forget the beauty of the scenery and the enjoyment of the service, which ultimately is its own reward.
Maybe the next time we feel like it isn't worth it, we should take a hike.
2 comments:
Great post. It's true; as leaders, we sometimes make team goals, missions, and visions far too easy. I think we are a little afraid that people will walk out on what we are doing.
Your post made me think of a quote I like:
"This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy."
George Bernard Shaw (I think!)
Please keep up these thought-provoking and challenging posts.
-James Hathaway
Brilliant quote. I'm working through some performance evaluations with my colleagues and I think this might be standard issue for every discussion I have with them.
Thanks
-Forrest Cate
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