After you reflect on the eight foundations of trust (Truth-Telling, Center Stage, Perceptions, The Tone of Trust, Rules, Serving, Courage, and Perseverance) in Dan Busby’s new book, Trust: The Firm Foundation for Kingdom Fruitfulness, a powerful prayer awaits you on pages 86-89.
Here’s a taste:
“Dear God...Help me to SPEAK CAUTIOUSLY.
• Let me use the least words, the least intensity, the least volume needed to be understood.
• Help me voice my opinions with care, strength and meekness.
• Help me to ask good questions, open dialogue, explore options, and deepen discussion.
• Help me to say nothing degrading and nothing that would draw lines of conflict unnecessarily.
• Help me to affirm and agree whenever possible.
• Help me to give second voice to a courageous and wise first-voice; those who risk presenting a new, contrary or unrefined perspective.
• Lord, help me to accept compliments and approval with humility.
• God, give me the grace to watch with dignity as my proposal fails, and give me humility when my idea meets with approval.”
The Lord inspired Dan Bolin, International Director of Christian Camping International, to write this humbling prayer while serving board members during an overseas trip. Last week, a rescue mission CEO mentioned to me that after sharing the prayer at a board meeting, it’s now a regular agenda item as board members prepare their hearts for God’s business by reading the prayer together.
The entire prayer is also included as a supplementary resource in the ECFA Governance Toolbox Series No. 3: Conflicts of Interest.
The prayer concludes, “Grant us the joy of arriving at adjournment closer to one another because we are closer to you.”
QUESTION: When the gavel sounds, are your board members closer to God and to each other?
No comments:
Post a Comment