a drop of water

Another category for understanding the nature of leadership that cuts against the grain of traditional definitions is “sensemaking.”  Wilfred Drath and Charles Palus, at the Center for Creative Leadership, explain that “most existing theories, models, and definitions of leadership proceed from the assumption that somehow leadership is about getting people to do something.” Instead, Drath and Palus re-imagine leadership as “the process for making sense of what people are doing together so that people will understand and be committed.”  Leadership, in this view, is a matter of interpretation. Leaders  give people a lens and language for understanding their work and experiences in light of larger purposes.  They help shape the mental frameworks of others so that those people see themselves as making contributions to the mission and direction of their organization, working in community for a common purpose.

p125. Adam S. McHugh, Introverts in the Church

Stuff happens.  People and communities divide over hurt, miscommunication and differences, forming mountains that separate them, limit their perspective, and pigeonhole their identities.  Human reconciliation is a trajectory where the opposing sides are traversing that mountain.  Human reconciliation is not ignoring the mountain’s existence.  That would be devaluing and insulting to the underlying issues.  Nor is reconciliation magically making the mountain disappear (only divine reconciliation has the power and resources for that).  Traversing the mountain takes energy and is costly, but it transforms the mountain’s identity and power as a separator into a common vista from which both sides can gain deeper understanding of themselves and each other.

Ideally, mountain traversing is a mutual effort from both sides; each side will have a unique understanding and ability to traverse their own side of the mountain.  Both sides have the opportunity to be a part of the process.  Both sides also have the ability to destroy the process.  Often, one side will have the honor of intentionally sustaining the cause and enabling the other side to join the effort.  This is not easy.  Sometimes one side will have traversed the mountain and reached the other side, only to find a closed gate that can only be opened from the inside.  A friend of mine, after a number of years of trial and error, is only recently beginning to rejoice in seeing his father start up the side of the mountain.  The value of traversing the mountain is realized when all who willing to climb gain a deeper understanding of themselves and each other.  What was once a symbol of hurt, miscommunication, and separation is now a common perspective to connect and grow.

In my life, I’ve ignored the mountain and I’ve prayed for the mountain to magically go away.  Maybe it is time for me to start climbing.

• 3 Main Sessions
• 12 Seminars
• Many hours of planning and prayer
• Over 150 staff
• Over 3000 pictures.

Thats what 2010 InterVarsity Asian American Staff Conference was in numbers.  It happens every three years and provides a space for InterVarsity’s staff involved in Asian American Ministries to meet, connect, and here where the movement is going on the national scale.  There is a summary video to see.  I’m still processing a lot of what I heard, but here are a handful of shots to give you an glimpse into what happened!

When you buy something, you want your money’s worth right?  You do research and talk to previous/current owners about their experiences.  When you invest in stocks or deposit your money in the bank, you want to choose a trusted institution that will have high returns with low risk. We must apply the same rigor to selecting a charity to invest in.  For example, here are a few things to consider in order to make the most of your charitable contribution:

1. Give to a charity with efficient overhead costs, maximizing the direct impact of your gift.  Everyone likes a good deal, getting the most for your money.  Hold organizations accountable to minimizing their overhead costs.
2. Give to a charity that your company has chosen to match employee gifts.  Companies need to give away lots of money for tax reasons, so why not advocate for the organization of your choice with part of the financial power of your large company?  (Don’t see your organization on the list? Go and ask your HR department about getting them added!)
3. Give to a charity that you can connect with and advocate for among your community.  I know its a little awkward to talk about which charities you support, but there are so many charities out there, that most people might never take the time to learn about one unless personally introduced to it.

So, here is a little about World Vision:

1. 89% of your gift goes directly to the cause, 11% goes to overhead including fundraising, management and general. (reports here)
2. They have a company match database conveniently located here.
3. They tangibly connect you with who you are giving to, humanizing  your investment instead of making you feel like you don’t know where your money is really going.  You can sponsor a child, buy clothes for children who are suffering from the cold in Mongolia, or select from a host of other options in their gift catalog.

Thanks for reading!