Since the Detroit Pistons lost recently in the playoffs, I have been following the leadership genius of Detroit's GM-Joe Dumars' moves as he navigates through the crisis with his flailing team.
From afar and knowing the little that I know about Dumars, he is a respectful and very well liked individual. And he is lauded as a leader of a diverse group of folks. Joe is also known for making many great moves to get to a championship level of a team. At the same time, many will also remember that he missed the likes of Dwayne Wade and Carmelo Anthony for an unknown Darko Milicic who is still an unknown. He is not perfect but has a great track record.
While observing Dumars' responses to his floundering team, I thought it was great how he maneuvers through distributing the blame where it maybe due, including on himself. He is one who won't budge on excellence and hard work. But he is all bent set on his goal...a championship team. He does this by being a calculated risk taker while always treating individuals with class. He is a prototype of HR management/leadership to me.
My latest favorite Dumar's quote for his team's creed is this:
'It's not about being right, it's about getting it right.'
I had to rethink this for a few seconds and found it profoundly true in life and leadership.
As a leader, if I were about being right, then, I would do alot to cover up my mistakes. If I were about the first, I would also not admit I was ever wrong thus, at times preventing me from making the right adjustments or corrections. If I were about being right only, then I may also hinder myself from loving people and doing what it takes to confess and repent as needed in relationships.
I love Dumar's team creed, it reveals so much the heart of an authentic person. That the most important thing in life is not about being right....but about getting it right to do what is best for each situation and for loving relationships in God's sight. And what is more paramount is not about being right, but about what can happen when one is actually wrong. That indeed, God is a God who sees our sins and short comings and yet, he always redirects us to getting it right with Him via the hope of the Gospel.
I literally have recollections from my leadership experience where I remember being tempted to just appear to be right and just go on as if life is as it should be. And at various times, I'd hear the voice of God nudging me to say: 'So, Margaret, you would rather be right and look like you did the right thing, then actually obey what I tell you to do NOW! And you would actually let your pride get in the way of what is My will? All so that you can continue to appear to be right? Think about it, my child, what is really in your heart?'
Other temptations happen in leadership decisions where I have made the wrong moves thus impacting those I serve in a negative way. Again, God is very gentle in how he has guided me to apologize to these same people even though in my pride I may not have liked not being right. Had I been about being right, or not being wrong in those scenarios, I would have missed out on repairing relationships and loving others. I would have missed out on the freedom of those moments of being about getting it right with God and not about controlling my image. Had I be about being right, I would have missed those redemptive moments where my image is laid bare and I am without an excuse for being wrong. But the wonder of it all, in these same long moments I usually find the grace of God via the people that knows about my shortcomings. This kind of vulnerability has allowed me to receive love from God in a very tangible intimate way. It also has taught me how to love as God does, with no claims to rights or being right.
So, who said you cannot learn about life via sports? Not I.
Thanks to Dumars, I am reminded about what is essential in life and leadership! Go Pistons!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Saturday, April 5, 2008
It is what it is!
"Isn't it funny that our reputation is like the wind?" This was a question that we discussed as I chatted with a fellow campus minister/friend. He was sharing with me about how a person can build up a life time of faithful service and credibility, but to no avail. What he meant was that sometimes, our reputation or others' perception of us is what it is, and it does not whatsoever depend on us. The frustrating thing is that others' perception of us or their opinions of us sometimes is not really about our character or action. Sometimes, their perception is more about their own lens with which they look at us.
Yes, to be a faithful, humble servant of God, we must always examine our own lives and why we maybe perceived negatively. However, there are times when it does not matter what we say or how we live or even about the fruit of our own righteous living. The sad thing is that alot of times, these perceptions are what they are because of the people perceiving us. Thus, their ideas about us are really not something we can truly earn or lose. It is what it is!
I have been thinking about this since Feb. 08. That month, I was not able to attend a conference related to my ministry. But my friends who attended the conference told me what happened there. It was nice that during that time, my name was spoken well of in front of all of the conferees. It was nice! In fact, it was such a nice feeling!
As I was processing that nice feeling, I was reminded by God that it is what it is! Sure felt good to have that feeling of being spoken well of. But it is really not about me. I sense that it is actually ironic that last year , had I attended the same conference, I might have heard some very negative things said about me.
(You see, I was kind of fired from my old position around that time.)
I recalled the feeling that I was so exasperated by my situation because I was not able to represent myself to some of these same people. I was greatly hurt because I was not able to express my view or even defend the false perceptions about me. It was as if it did not matter what I said or what I did, and that these perceptions would persist. I felt very helpless!
The same scenario and yet, this time, it is the opposite. This time, it really was not about me,
it just happened that the perception of me now was a more positive perception of me; but I really didn't do that much for those kind words. (Sure, I was encouraging and all...but really it was just their perception....) In actuality, I am the same person that was fired.
Like my other friends who have experienced this, after living a while, we get to experience that our reputation is sometimes like the wind. It just come and goes. And really, we cannot base our identity and our worth on the words or opinions of men or women. That really the only thing that is the most important in our lives is what Jesus says about us. That He thinks we are really precious and we are truly his beloved children. What really matters is His opinion about us.
The wind will come and go. And all we can do is to abide in Him as it moves around.
All we can do is to examine our hearts about others perceptions of us and humbly change anything that Our Savior tells us to. We must then leave our reputation at the alter of God.
And to embrace that our reputation is just like the wind.
But God is our security and is our stay.
Yes, to be a faithful, humble servant of God, we must always examine our own lives and why we maybe perceived negatively. However, there are times when it does not matter what we say or how we live or even about the fruit of our own righteous living. The sad thing is that alot of times, these perceptions are what they are because of the people perceiving us. Thus, their ideas about us are really not something we can truly earn or lose. It is what it is!
I have been thinking about this since Feb. 08. That month, I was not able to attend a conference related to my ministry. But my friends who attended the conference told me what happened there. It was nice that during that time, my name was spoken well of in front of all of the conferees. It was nice! In fact, it was such a nice feeling!
As I was processing that nice feeling, I was reminded by God that it is what it is! Sure felt good to have that feeling of being spoken well of. But it is really not about me. I sense that it is actually ironic that last year , had I attended the same conference, I might have heard some very negative things said about me.
(You see, I was kind of fired from my old position around that time.)
I recalled the feeling that I was so exasperated by my situation because I was not able to represent myself to some of these same people. I was greatly hurt because I was not able to express my view or even defend the false perceptions about me. It was as if it did not matter what I said or what I did, and that these perceptions would persist. I felt very helpless!
The same scenario and yet, this time, it is the opposite. This time, it really was not about me,
it just happened that the perception of me now was a more positive perception of me; but I really didn't do that much for those kind words. (Sure, I was encouraging and all...but really it was just their perception....) In actuality, I am the same person that was fired.
Like my other friends who have experienced this, after living a while, we get to experience that our reputation is sometimes like the wind. It just come and goes. And really, we cannot base our identity and our worth on the words or opinions of men or women. That really the only thing that is the most important in our lives is what Jesus says about us. That He thinks we are really precious and we are truly his beloved children. What really matters is His opinion about us.
The wind will come and go. And all we can do is to abide in Him as it moves around.
All we can do is to examine our hearts about others perceptions of us and humbly change anything that Our Savior tells us to. We must then leave our reputation at the alter of God.
And to embrace that our reputation is just like the wind.
But God is our security and is our stay.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Can He hear me?
It is 2:00am in the morning and I cannot believe that I am up. But it is one of those rare nights when sleep escapes me. I almost feel like I will burst. I cannot believe the ways that God answers our hearts' cries and prayers for ministry. I am like a little kid in the ice cream shop getting giddy about how she can get any flavor of ice cream that her heart desires. And what's more, she gets to have more than one cone.
"My cup runneth over..."
It is as if God literally hears my thoughts and then, just makes it happen....very serendipitously.
How often in the last few months have I felt this way! How often I have sensed God literally hearing my words. Wow, that is a very powerful image for me as an Asian American...that God literally hears me and listens to me. That is a profondly baffling reality to know of and experience when I consider my own father's detachment while growing up. Moreover, when I think of how life was always more about my mother and her needs and not what I had to say.
How wonderful and how marvelous to know of this as God's relationship with me!
As glorious as that is, still the real pearl is not that He hears me. The real prize or pearl is that he cares. It is that he hears, and he does stuff just for me to know that he cares. It is what my friends call tangible 'kisses' from God
No one else will understand all the undercurrents of his way of answering my prayers or changing history....that is his secret with me. How marvelous that I and we have this type of relationship with God.
In the secret, in the quiet place , You are there....with me.
"What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? " Deut. 4:7
"My cup runneth over..."
It is as if God literally hears my thoughts and then, just makes it happen....very serendipitously.
How often in the last few months have I felt this way! How often I have sensed God literally hearing my words. Wow, that is a very powerful image for me as an Asian American...that God literally hears me and listens to me. That is a profondly baffling reality to know of and experience when I consider my own father's detachment while growing up. Moreover, when I think of how life was always more about my mother and her needs and not what I had to say.
How wonderful and how marvelous to know of this as God's relationship with me!
As glorious as that is, still the real pearl is not that He hears me. The real prize or pearl is that he cares. It is that he hears, and he does stuff just for me to know that he cares. It is what my friends call tangible 'kisses' from God
No one else will understand all the undercurrents of his way of answering my prayers or changing history....that is his secret with me. How marvelous that I and we have this type of relationship with God.
In the secret, in the quiet place , You are there....with me.
"What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? " Deut. 4:7
Sunday, October 28, 2007
I can never......
I can never like smoking. I would not want to.
It smells horrific and it is bad for you.
But it sure would help in being in the fraternity of male leadership.
As a woman leader, I have those thoughts of wanting to smoke with the guys
so that I can feel more accepted in their circles.
How often I feel excluded in the informal ways that decisions are made.
And I am not in that inner circle!
Is it my own insecurity? Or is it that it is a crummy way to feel about yourself
in the gender mix. Do men ever feel this way?
I just want to be me and be free to lead and serve
without feeling apologetic for myself or feeling like an
outsider or being marginalized.
Reading " The Lost Women of the Bible" by Carolyn Curtis James
teaches me that it ought not be so. That God has designed men and women
to be involved in the Blessed Alliance. And that anything short of that will hinder
kingdom work.
Experiences like these leave me to wonder away from my vision...
I long to be just at a place where I can lead and use my own giftings.
I don't want to have to fight to be a part of the 'in' crowd.
I really should continue to look into starting up a company or ministry.
That seems like the easy solution? Or is it?
It smells horrific and it is bad for you.
But it sure would help in being in the fraternity of male leadership.
As a woman leader, I have those thoughts of wanting to smoke with the guys
so that I can feel more accepted in their circles.
How often I feel excluded in the informal ways that decisions are made.
And I am not in that inner circle!
Is it my own insecurity? Or is it that it is a crummy way to feel about yourself
in the gender mix. Do men ever feel this way?
I just want to be me and be free to lead and serve
without feeling apologetic for myself or feeling like an
outsider or being marginalized.
Reading " The Lost Women of the Bible" by Carolyn Curtis James
teaches me that it ought not be so. That God has designed men and women
to be involved in the Blessed Alliance. And that anything short of that will hinder
kingdom work.
Experiences like these leave me to wonder away from my vision...
I long to be just at a place where I can lead and use my own giftings.
I don't want to have to fight to be a part of the 'in' crowd.
I really should continue to look into starting up a company or ministry.
That seems like the easy solution? Or is it?
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Where YOU are....
Recently while appreciating the beauty of sunset at the Ritz Calrton,
I stumbled across this poem: (I love vacations!)
****************************************************
WHERE YOU ARE...
the life down here is not so bad
it indeed is pretty go0d
the assurance of love and connections
albeit limited is sweet
my heart is content
But my heart longs
to be over there ---where You are
where Your glory and love lie
where You are able to shine
in the midst of the darkness
where You reign supreme
where there is no lack
my heart longs for
what I know not of---
only what I dare to dream of
my heart longs for
things and sights unseen
of grandiosity unforetold
my heart longs for home
for home with You
where You are ---
with all of Your glory.
Bring me to where You are---
rid my limited obscured ways---
rid of my impatient selfish soul---
Let Your glory pull me in
Let your love overwhelm my inner being
Let You---let me go to
where You are---
I'll let go if You'd
pull me into Your glory and love
I'd choose Life eternal if
You'd pull my soul besides Yours
I'd choose Love glorious if
You'd burn away the
moss of my pride---
Your glory shines
in the midst of the darkness---
Your glory draws and pulls me
towards Heaven to where You are
I stumbled across this poem: (I love vacations!)
****************************************************
WHERE YOU ARE...
the life down here is not so bad
it indeed is pretty go0d
the assurance of love and connections
albeit limited is sweet
my heart is content
But my heart longs
to be over there ---where You are
where Your glory and love lie
where You are able to shine
in the midst of the darkness
where You reign supreme
where there is no lack
my heart longs for
what I know not of---
only what I dare to dream of
my heart longs for
things and sights unseen
of grandiosity unforetold
my heart longs for home
for home with You
where You are ---
with all of Your glory.
Bring me to where You are---
rid my limited obscured ways---
rid of my impatient selfish soul---
Let Your glory pull me in
Let your love overwhelm my inner being
Let You---let me go to
where You are---
I'll let go if You'd
pull me into Your glory and love
I'd choose Life eternal if
You'd pull my soul besides Yours
I'd choose Love glorious if
You'd burn away the
moss of my pride---
Your glory shines
in the midst of the darkness---
Your glory draws and pulls me
towards Heaven to where You are
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Random thoguhts Aug. 12, 2007
***Three months ago, I was driving around in my car and all of a sudden, I began to sing a song in my heart. It is from the song: "I can see clearly now the Rain is gone, all of the obstacles have disappeared, here is the rainbow I've been praying for; it's gonna be a bright bright sunshiny day....Look over here,there is nothing but blue skies....I can see clearly now the rain is gone"
Then it hit me, how I my soul was doing. I felt so liberated as I realised how I have felt the Lord taking my soul from the darkness of the harshness of this past year and sensing a new day in my soul and heart.
It was a great feeling. Then, I began to ponder on how neat it was that God is so into putting a new song in our hearts. Even though, I am not very musical whatsoever, there is something that God puts within my soul that longs to sing about how God has worked in my life.
It was a moment in which I was reminded of the power of music in my heart.
I think being a non musical person may have hinder some of the richness of God in my heart.
I really had to wrestle with how I can change that for my life.
***Here is something I came across recently on my vacation. (It was glorious! To be with God and alone and not think about work, or Kevin or ministry...) But I am so aware of how God provides for us spiritual home places for our soul. What I mean is that for each of us, God sometimes use certain place or environment to help us feel his presence, love and voice in a unique way. For me, it is watching the sun and sunsets. I can recall so often hearing God love and speak to me in the midst of staring at the sun and during sunsets. It is neat that for some of us, it is the mountains.....or the creek....and even a certain time of the day when our soul feels so connected to Him. I am so grateful that God knows me and makes appointments with me at those places in special ways. He is so intricate in how he speaks to all of us.
***I really have to continue to work on anger in my life. God is so good to teach me about my voice...and how anger plays. I feel so young in this area....
Then it hit me, how I my soul was doing. I felt so liberated as I realised how I have felt the Lord taking my soul from the darkness of the harshness of this past year and sensing a new day in my soul and heart.
It was a great feeling. Then, I began to ponder on how neat it was that God is so into putting a new song in our hearts. Even though, I am not very musical whatsoever, there is something that God puts within my soul that longs to sing about how God has worked in my life.
It was a moment in which I was reminded of the power of music in my heart.
I think being a non musical person may have hinder some of the richness of God in my heart.
I really had to wrestle with how I can change that for my life.
***Here is something I came across recently on my vacation. (It was glorious! To be with God and alone and not think about work, or Kevin or ministry...) But I am so aware of how God provides for us spiritual home places for our soul. What I mean is that for each of us, God sometimes use certain place or environment to help us feel his presence, love and voice in a unique way. For me, it is watching the sun and sunsets. I can recall so often hearing God love and speak to me in the midst of staring at the sun and during sunsets. It is neat that for some of us, it is the mountains.....or the creek....and even a certain time of the day when our soul feels so connected to Him. I am so grateful that God knows me and makes appointments with me at those places in special ways. He is so intricate in how he speaks to all of us.
***I really have to continue to work on anger in my life. God is so good to teach me about my voice...and how anger plays. I feel so young in this area....
Monday, June 25, 2007
From Lose/Lose to Winning for Him
I could not believe it. Why was God doing this to me? Here I am an Asian American being trained in mediating conflict. And who is my assigned co-mediator for our 2 hour conflict role play? A 78 year old godly woman who is dominant and a professional psychologist who had practiced marriage counseling at our church for over 8 years. I was grateful to work alongside with her. But the irony of it all was that her counseling approach was actually a disservice to her and us as we sought to facilitate reconciliation with the parties involved in the case.
Why, God?
Do you want me to learn again how to speak up? But I am so Asian, I hesitate more since she is older and learned and experienced. I was truly struggling to say things to her...
I was tongue tied....I was taken back. I had to figure out the nice way to call a caucus with her so we could be on the same page. How do I gently tell her that her methods were very judgmental? How do I have the heart to tell her what I really feel. I felt stifled.
Later on as I reflect over that moment, I got upset at God. Why God, why indeed? It is not fun to be AA sometimes. I was also reminded of times when I would be like that dear old lady...where I was the older one with younger leaders. And I recalled how in those scenarios, because I am so American, I would defer as well so that I could also empower younger leaders leading with me. It hit me like a ton of bricks....it feels like I am always deferring....be it to younger or older leaders....
It almost feels like being Asian American is not working for me. By my Asian self, I naturally defer to older people. By my American self, I naturally defer to younger people so as to not misuse my power with them. I don't abdicate influence; but I use that power to accept these younger leaders and believe in them. From the world's perspective, being AA feels kind of like I lose in both scenarios. I was a bit bothered by this as I discussed this with God.
But once I went into his sanctuary, I was reminded of how in God's economy that you have to lose your life to gain it. Really, in both of these situations that God puts me in...I get to love people the way he would want me to. I get to truly not think of myself as I often do...but to love others while respecting them without losing myself. And loving others is always winning for God...He gets the glory....
So, I am not so mad at God any more....I am glad I am me...AA and all.
Why, God?
Do you want me to learn again how to speak up? But I am so Asian, I hesitate more since she is older and learned and experienced. I was truly struggling to say things to her...
I was tongue tied....I was taken back. I had to figure out the nice way to call a caucus with her so we could be on the same page. How do I gently tell her that her methods were very judgmental? How do I have the heart to tell her what I really feel. I felt stifled.
Later on as I reflect over that moment, I got upset at God. Why God, why indeed? It is not fun to be AA sometimes. I was also reminded of times when I would be like that dear old lady...where I was the older one with younger leaders. And I recalled how in those scenarios, because I am so American, I would defer as well so that I could also empower younger leaders leading with me. It hit me like a ton of bricks....it feels like I am always deferring....be it to younger or older leaders....
It almost feels like being Asian American is not working for me. By my Asian self, I naturally defer to older people. By my American self, I naturally defer to younger people so as to not misuse my power with them. I don't abdicate influence; but I use that power to accept these younger leaders and believe in them. From the world's perspective, being AA feels kind of like I lose in both scenarios. I was a bit bothered by this as I discussed this with God.
But once I went into his sanctuary, I was reminded of how in God's economy that you have to lose your life to gain it. Really, in both of these situations that God puts me in...I get to love people the way he would want me to. I get to truly not think of myself as I often do...but to love others while respecting them without losing myself. And loving others is always winning for God...He gets the glory....
So, I am not so mad at God any more....I am glad I am me...AA and all.
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