"All the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber." So wrote Blaise Pascal, the French mathematician and philosopher, in his Pensees (literally, “thoughts”). It is difficult for us to have some conversations with ourselves, but these may very well be our most important conversations.
Christianity Today’s LEADERSHIPjournal.net is a wonderful resource for spiritual leaders. Gordon McDonald’s June 28 article entitled “Your Most Important Conversation” especially spoke to me.
Gordon wrote, “My own theory is that very event, every human transaction in life, offers an insight. But it's often buried like gold or oil. It has to be discovered. Perhaps that's why busy people are impressive but often shallow. No time to mine the gold and drill the oil.” He then provides a number of insightful “inner conversation starters”. Here are are just six of the many examples he gave which:
- What happened this week that needs to be remembered, perhaps recorded in a journal so I can return to it in the future and recall the blessing (or the rebuke) of God? Making such a record is like those monuments and altars God had the Israelites raise up when great things worth remembering had happened.
- Have things happened for which I need to accept responsibility, perhaps leading to repentance? Why did they happen? Were they avoidable and how can they be prevented in the future?
- Is there a possibility that I am living in denial of certain realities? Painful criticism, sloppy work, habitual patterns that are hurting me and others?
- Are there any resentments or ill feelings toward others that remain unaddressed, unforgiven?
- As a leader visualizing myself in the company of spouse, children, friends, colleagues: am I a pleasant person to be around? Are people challenged, elevated, enthused when I enter the room? As someone has observed, "Some people bring joy wherever they go; others bring joy when they go." Which am I?
- What is God trying to say into my life today? Through Scripture? Through other readings? What has he been saying through those in my inner circle of relationships? Through critics? What insights swirl up and out of the deepest parts of my soul? Which of them needs to be repudiated, and which needs to be cultivated?
McDonald explains (1) how to debrief with God each week (2)
additional questions to initiate the inner conversation with God and self (3) why spiritual leaders often neglect this conversation (4) common excuses offered to avoid this conversation, and (5) the core of John Newton’s spiritual life summarized in five principles that guided him in his leadership with people and his walk with God.
You’ll enjoy discovering how William Wilberforce fits into this conversation!
Click here to read the article.
