Monument Men
For months my head has been in the fields picking daisies and smelling the roses. What a season to breathe and think and pray and recalibrate. This time is helping me crystallize a vision of what’s to come and what could be.
But I’m also quick to realize that a vision without a strategy will just make me a dreamer, which doesn’t add up to much in the long run (and most definitely has limited to no value in the short run). Yes I love to dream, but everything up in the air needs to come down to the ground eventually. I’m feeling this inevitable gravity a bit more acutely as new opportunities begin to frame and gain momentum.
Conversely, a strategy without a vision can corner me into blind or begrudging execution. Or dare I say even legalism. We do just because we’re supposed to do, because that’s what everyone else says or thinks. Just keep your head down and get to the next stop with no questions asked. Stick to the plan. Yuck.
But what happens if vision and strategy begin to co-exist and start to dance together? That’s when the fun really gets going. It’s when potential begins to bubble. Which then gives birth to a movement.
As big as I like to think, a movement challenges me to think even bigger. I’m not talking about gathering an enormous social media following or rallying a small flash mob. No no, a movement is monumental. It lasts and leaves a worthy impact. Movements extend far and wide and typically leave an imprint for the next generation to follow. The DNA of a movement has purpose, inspiration, and perspiration.
Interestingly I picked up an old book off my shelf yesterday with a laser focus on purpose. It’s called A Passionate Commitment by Crawford Loritts. I noticed my bookmark was only halfway through the book, which means I never finished my reading assignment (apologies to Joe Ferrini – I promise to finally follow through).
Wouldn’t you know it, I left off right where Dr. Loritts dives into the active pursuit of a purposeful life coupled with finding and understanding God’s will. Talk about timely and relevant content for my cloud hopping.
But as I pondered some helpful advice on living a surrendered life and trusting God’s direction (rather than my own mind or past experiences), he then transitions into the 5 distinguishing features of a movement (which by the way is much different than an organization or institution):
Charismatic leader
Clear mission
Flexibility of methodology
Enlistment and mobilization of the masses to accomplish the mission
Obvious commitment on the part of the members to make it happen
From here it may be obvious that I might argue that the greatest movement ever is still active and in play, which would be Christ and His Church. Yes and amen, and each of those 5 have been and continue to be essential ingredients for advancing the mission.
Notice how important number 5 is. For those that like action, "make it happen!" Ground control, we have a dedicated commitment on behalf of the members who are all-in on the mission. Because vision and strategy without action is just rebellion. Also known as disobedience.
It’s the other side of movements that struck me the most, though. If steps 2-5 are compromised in any way, such as letting programs trump the mission, or maybe flexibility and creativity go out the window, or when we leave the movement up to just a few, or if our heart is not 100% committed, movements quickly pivot to lifeless organizations. He says you start hearing, “we’ve always done it this way, and this is what we are comfortable with.”
And then movements become monuments, which are simply statements of past success and significance. I find this to be such a helpful visual metaphor and forewarning. The focus becomes the “glory days” and how things used to be. A bunch of Chris Farley’s walk around the halls saying “remember when….that was awesome!”
That’s when the movement is dead.
Not only is this true in many local churches, but it is also true in business. And it might be true at a personal level too.
The fire is gone, the mission is unclear (or forgotten), and we become like a reed waffling in the wind.
Oh God, may I never become a monument man. And may your Spirit light a fire in me that never burns out so I can stay on mission. With my eyes fixed firmly ahead rather than behind.
For your glory, and nothing else.