We are creatures of habit. Whether it’s following an old tradition, or insisting on constant change for the sake of change, we often stay on the treadmill we’ve become accustomed to.
Recently, as I was thinking about those habits, this scenario came to mind:
Imagine a hallway full of doors, all of which lead to the same destination. All your life you’ve seen people go through one particular door, so you use it, too. But one day you try to go through that door and it won’t open for you.
What do you do?
Insistence says, “Get me a battering ram, a crowbar, or a prayer group. We’re going to push, pry, or pray this door open!”
Humility says, “Maybe my way isn’t the best way this time. Let’s try a door we’ve never tried before.”
When your usual door won’t open, have the humility to try other doors. The destination is what matters, not the route you take to get there.
When Habits Become Idols
We all have habits, many of which are very good.
But habits can quickly become idols. Before we know it, the door becomes the goal, not the means to the goal.
Church leaders do this when we lock in on an extra-biblical program, method, or tradition as if it was God-ordained. Or when restlessness leads to the need for constant change.
Humility is the willingness to pause to consider, “maybe my way isn’t the only way to get where we need to go.”
Effective Leadership Uses New Doors
Effective leaders don’t insist on the door they’re in the habit of using, whether it’s the door of tradition or the door of restlessness.
Doors are doors. Goals are goals. Wise leaders never confuse the two.
Just be sure the new door leads to the same destination.
(Photo by Siaron James | Flickr)
