On one our roadtrips, we stopped and visited some pastor friends. As we both are pouring out our souls and lifting each other up, he made the comment, "As you lead down (to the people on your team or in your department), you also lead up (to the management teams and organizational leaders)." One of my roles is working with an organization of traditional structure. It is very much top down. Ironically, I lead a team of dynamic and empowered leaders. The team is encouraged to lead from their skillsets, to press the paradigms of interpersonal relationships, and to care for the well-being of others. I often find myself bumping against invisible barriers while trying to encourage others to go beyond. I am curious, how do you empower others and stretch the paradigms of those who operate in hierarchy?

I am part of many groups, all are my favorites. Today's thought comes from a group of Christian men, we are coaches in different aspects. We call ourselves, "The Bench" - we are part of Christiaan Coaches Network International (CCNI) (https://christiancoaches.com/) Our topic of discussion was the semiannual conversation of what resources are currently influencing us? I will probably share some thoughts from this discussion over the next few weeks. (that's a veiled accountability statement trying to say I want to be better at post discussion content here.) one of the guys shared his new interest in Ben Sasse, a man who knows he's dying and wants to share some of his insights with others... here's a link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CFo6-6BN9k. I encourage you to look it up. My hope for this page is to give a snippet of information that might spark a conversation. I've give the snippet, and now, I'd like to hear your thoughts... mine are included in the comments.

When the thought hit me, it didn't sound so much like Dr Seuss wrote it... I feel like Ephesians 2:8,9,and 10 describe the concept so well, I don't have to do anything but receive God's gift of identity. And, then, from that gift, I receive salvation and a purpose... But when I get it backwards and think my WHO (identity) comes from what I DO (role), it seems to make people bristle a bit and they are repulsed from the intent of drawing them closer to God. How do you help people (Ministers especially) operate in their God given identity, rather than find their identity in their current role?

A friend sent me an article from Tara Beth Leach- 'Why Do You Feel Spiritually Numb (and What To Do About It) (4/21//26) - I loved the vulnerability in it. I loved the words she put to the feeling... it's not depression, its not burnout, its not laziness. It is Acedia - an oppressive enemy-- The demon of acedia is the most oppressive of all the demons. He attacks the monk about the fourth hour and besieges his soul until the eighth hour. First of all, he makes it appear that the sun moves slowly or not at all, and that the day seems to be fifty hours long. The instruction to deal with acedia is to sit with it...no fight, no pressing through, no sweat it out. Tara Beth says in giving this enemy a name, we can reduce its power. she goes on to give three postures to defeat acedia... Stay in your cell, stop trying to feel, let someone feed you. She describes each step in depth. Each is intriguing in its own right. One of my key phrases to weary ministers is 'you're not 'alone.' I realize God's gifting to kathy and I is to support and encourage others. We also recognize the need(s) to let others minister to us. There are times I need to be supported and encouraged. How about you? How do you receive support or encouragement? How do you fight the long days? https://open.substack.com/pub/tarabethleach/p/why-you-feel-spiritually-numb-and?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web