On a Lazy River to Nowhere

Last month I had my very first RBM planning meeting for the Gmz Scripture Project. RBM (or Results-Based Management) is built on the idea that we set long range goals (results) and then based on those we develop associated 3-year, 1-year, and quarterly actions plans which will lead to the eventual reaching of those goals. Though dreaded by many, such a meeting was actually exciting for me as it showed me how my planned actions for the first quarter of 2011, though seemingly quite insignificant in themselves, actually help build toward the accomplishment of Bible translation and Scripture Use among the Gmz people.

This RBM principle reminds me of my favorite class in seminary, when my favorite professor asked the class three simple questions as follows “Who among you desires to become a Christ-like man of God?” With all hands raised, he continued, “Ok, now, how many of you believe that becoming that man of God requires a commitment to the study and application of Scripture?”Our hands held strong until the third question hit home, “How many of you, based on what you are doing today, actually see yourself one day becoming that man of God?” As his point sank deep into my mind, so also my raised hand sank back to the notebook which lay open on the desk in front of me. After a brief pause, my professor concluded, “Have a good weekend,” and walked out of the silent classroom.

In all honesty, the way I felt that day, is the way I’m feeling since our return to Gesas in mid-December. I have lofty goals and exciting dreams of where I hope to be spiritually, personally, and professionally in the coming years, but the question haunts me, “what am I doing TODAY, to become what I hope to be TOMORROW?” Sadly, my answer is the same as it was in Dr. Hendricks classroom, “not enough.”

Let me give you an example from a non-spiritual context. These past few months, I have had a growing interest in learning to write well, especially in the narrative genre. I want to be able to tell stories that are entertaining, captivating and packed with power to communicate a poignant message. Through the books I am reading and the movies I am watching, I am becoming more and more fascinated with plots, character development, figurative imagery, and the power of explicit versus implicit information. So, yesterday, it was particularly fascinating for me to watch the “writers block” bonus feature on the DVD from the 4^th season of The Office. Basically, about 15 writers/producers from the show were lined up for a question and answer session, much of which revealed the highly technical side behind crafting each 21.5 minute show. Some of the guys explained how they got into writing, and how they honed their skills by obnoxiously analyzing other shows or stand-up comedy routines. All that to say, if I really want to deepen my storytelling and writing ability, I can’t just leave it in the “dreams” category of my mind and expect it to mature all by itself. Instead, I need to be investing serious time into reading and dissecting good stories, trying new things in my writing and putting in extra effort in critical revisions.

The jury is still out as to whether or not this is a valid use of my time, but I have the same feeling about the higher priority goals I have. Whether it’s my goal of becoming an effective writer/storyteller, a proficient communicator/translator in the Gmz language, a loving husband and father, or an ever-growing Christ-like man of God, I’m finding that it’s much easier to relax on my tube as I drift down the lazy river than it is to paddle against the current. Unfortunately, all of my goals beckon me from the higher ground - upstream.