Mastery
"God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule.'"
- The Genesis Story
“And let them rule. Like a foreman runs a ranch or like a skipper runs his ship. Better still, like a king rules a kingdom, God appoints us as the governors of his domain. We were created to be the kings and queens of the earth (small k, small q). Hebrew scholar Robert Alter has looked long and hard at this passage, mining it for its riches. He says the idea of rule means 'a fierce exercise of mastery.' It is active, engaged, passionate. It is fierce.”
- Excerpt from Waking the Dead
Could you feel your heart stir as your read that? Did it beat a bit faster and did you sit a little taller as your lungs filled with air? Or, did it not register at all…as if it were written about anyone other than you? Was it maybe a little disheartening knowing how different your day-to-day existence feels from that intended glory?
The Christian life isn’t so much about new things, but simply uncovering what is already true. Jesus didn’t say, “Behold, I make new things”, he said…
"Behold, I make all things new."
One of our first and most important tasks with the clients we serve is helping them identify the treasure they already possess. Our culture teaches us to look elsewhere. The thousands of marketing messages assaulting us every day are set on convincing us that happiness will be found in something other than who we are, what we have, or even who we are with.
Excavating a company’s story, identifying what is most unique and noble about their products/services, gleaning a more powerful purpose, and unifying a team around the uncompromising compass of a clear vision…is the foundation for uncovering the treasure in the field they already own.
And it all starts with an owner, a senior leader, or a leadership team, believing that there is an intended glory for not only their lives but the organizations they lead. If we will simply claim the original intended purpose for our lives, the collective glory possible from our combined efforts becomes much more realizable.
To lead with fierce mastery requires a deep level of ownership in the appointed task. It means relying on ancient wisdom and tools. It is about standing in the authority and intended nobility of your life as a leader and co-heir of the Kingdom. It is about being passionate, engaged and fierce.
Consider
- Do you approach your leadership with the kind of vigor and passion discussed above?
- What is keeping you from stepping into the intended glory of your life?
- What is it costing those you love and lead to not be operating this way in your family or company?