Original Day One Thoughts.
The following were my thoughts on Willow Creek Leadership Summit which I did not post because they were the kind of things that I’d hate to read if I was in the shoes of the people who put the Summit on. But the second day more than made up for it and provide balancing context for my Day #1 thoughts - here they are:
I’m tired of hearing about how he started in 1990 with 4 families and now there are 25000 and 4 locations.
I’m tired of prayers having to end at the same me as a countdown so video can transition seamlessly.
I’m tired of volunteers who have to wear black shirts and beige khaki’s.
I’m not tired of Andy Stanley.
I’m tired of hearing about the 2 books I can buy which dovetail into each section.
I am tired of other supplementary materials I can buy for just a few dollars.
I’m tired of being told I am part of a movement I feel little emotional attachment to.
I’m tired of being asked to give money so the global church can sample what the western church can offer.
I am tired of the lack of self reflection I perceive (but how can you tell via video)?
I’m really intrigued by what must have been going on at Hillsong about 20 years ago.
I am tired of the rehashing of the same leadership principles and anecdotes.
I’m tired of acronyms which make things memorable and lists which start with the same letter.
I’m tired of apologetic celebrity.
Best line of the day? “Can we please go and find some darkness” - challenge from Christine Caine to a group who is called to be light. Let me continue her challenge PAC’ers. When was the last time you heard a really dirty joke? When was the last time you looked into glazed eyes and smelled a lot of alcohol on someones breath? When was the last time you met a hungry person? When was the last time you wrapped your arms around someone who was so broken they might collapse? When was the last time you smelled pot? Go find some darkness and be light where people notice it.
I’m tired of people telling me what I just saw was really powerful stuff.
I wonder if something got lost in translation or if there is now a chinese version of the health and wealth gospel.
I’m tired of Bill Hybel’s voice cracking at the same moment in every single talk I hear him give. Please note, just because I am tired of it doesn’t mean I don’t think he is sincere. I think he is.
I wonder how much or how little I have learned in the 15 years I have been attending these sorts of events. I honestly don’t know.
I like thinking about the “seats on the bus” and the “right people on the bus” and feeling like PAC is 99.9% there.
I’m tired of hosts reading tweets from people at satellite locations as if they were life changing manifestos.
Lots to think about.
Am I just tired?
Or is the whole Leadership Summit idea tired?
To everything there is a season…?
I don’t really know.
Tomorrow we all head back for Day #2.
An open heart and open mind might have me singing a very different tune tomorrow night. (and indeed it did).
