Mike Bonem
My regular place to run is a 3-mile dirt path around a college campus. It keeps me off the pavement (good for my knees) and out of traffic (good for everything else!) The only problem is that the path is topped with very small rocks, and a few of them inevitably end up in my shoes. On almost every run, I have to decide whether to keep going or stop and remove a rock.
Leaders encounter a variety of “rocks” as they pursue the vision to which God has called them and their churches or ministries – an angry church member, a discouraged staff person, a lack of support for a new initiative, an unsettled feeling in their own soul. And just like my running, leaders have to decide what to do about these rocks.
How do you decide when to stop and when to keep pressing ahead? When I’m running, the decision is easy. If a rock is small and just a nuisance, I keep going. If it is actually painful, I stop and remove it. In the latter case, ignoring the rock would cause me to alter my stride and could result in an injury.
For ministry leaders, the decision may not be as simple, but the same principles are applicable. When you encounter a “rock,” ask yourself:
- How big is the rock? I shouldn’t let my run be derailed by every tiny rock, nor should your leadership be sidetracked by every small obstacle. The key is determining the size and seriousness of the obstacle. One loud complainer makes more noise than many grumblers, but the latter is more concerning.
- What are your options? When running, I can either stop to remove the rock or keep going. In leadership, you have many more options. Each option has a cost: the time you and others might spend addressing a problem, what may happen if you ignore it, and time that is not available to focus on other priorities. These costs should be weighed against the benefits of each option.
- Am I confident in my assessment? Determining the size and consequences of a leadership obstacle can be difficult, especially if it feels like a personal attack. In these moments, other trusted leaders can offer valuable perspectives on your assessment of the situation.
- What might God be saying to me in this moment? Even though my general advice is to ignore small rocks, there is an important exception. God often speaks to us in a quiet voice or seemingly minor circumstances. (Consider Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:1-14 or Elijah in 1 Kings 19:11-18.) When you encounter leadership rocks, whether large or small, pause long enough to ask, “God, is there something you want me to hear from you in this moment?”
