Think Color. Not Orange. Not Black or White.

For years I saw things in black and white.  Leadership and life in general sort of fit in a certain box that helped me make sense of everything.  I came to a point where I really thought I had figured a lot of things out about people, God and the world around me.  I guess I even put God in a box.  I studied so much about him in Seminary that the Bible became more of a textbook rather than a life book.  I classified people into certain categories: republican, democrat, hurt people, saved people, healthy people, etc.

Then after 10 years of full time ministry, I took a year and a half off and went into the business world full-time.  My perspective on a lot of things changed.

Then about a year and half ago, I moved to Southern California and went back into full-time ministry.  My perspective on a lot of things has changed since moving here.

These two experiences has helped me to see the world around me in different ways.  I no longer think in black and white.  Nor do I see shades of gray.  I actually see in terms of a full color spectrum.  Let me explain.

I accept people as is and don’t label them to any specific group.  Nobody really has it all together, especially the people that look like they do.  Everyone is messed up and has issues.  Everybody is weird.  We are all different and I celebrate that truth!

I embrace diversity.  I love being with people who have different political, relational, cultural and religious views than I.  I don’t feel a need to convince them that my way is the best way.  I don’t argue with people about politics or religion.  I listen to them and their views without shoving my opinion down their throats.

I don’t think there is one way to lead a healthy preteen or children’s ministry.  There is no one cookie cutter approach.  No black or white answers.  God uses a beautiful array of colors to express his work of art.  The work of art being the approach of ministry he has gifted you with.

I believe God is mysterious.  To think we can analyze and explain God is crazy.  He is an all powerful all knowing God who is so far out of the box we put Him in.  Yes, there is much that we can know about Him through the Bible.  Got it.  But he is way bigger than we can imagine.

The world needs more leaders who think “color “instead of “black and white.”  Leaders who don’t have a memorized answer for all of life’s problems.  Leaders who are still in awe of God and appreciate his bigness.  Leaders who embrace and welcome diversity.  Leaders who are connected to God and discover their unique approach to ministry.