The following day, as I went through my role review with my boss, Gary, he challenged me to consider this past year from another point of view. Instead of needing to extend myself grace for things we didn’t accomplish, what if I embraced the wins that our team did have this year. He then proceeded to point out a number of things that I had written in my role review that he considered to be significant “wins” during this year of transition.
1. We successfully made an international move – it was only 11 months ago, on January 20th, that our family landed on American soil.
2. We’ve settled into St. Paul and our team is being woven into the fabric of the Hamline-Midway neighborhood.
3. We have some great relational connections – through Thirdway’s coffee house, the kids’ friends and their families, volunteering at local schools and spending time with neighbors, we have made some significant relationships.
4. We are mentoring young leaders - both Daleen and I meet weekly with young men and women, who are part of our community.
5. We are serving Thirdway, a church plant in our neighborhood – from serving on their leadership team to volunteering in their coffee shop, we are helping them fulfill their mission in our neighborhood.
6. I am walking alongside Seth, the leader of Thirdway – we have been meeting every couple of weeks to think through and consider important issues facing Thirdway. I have also begun to shoulder some of the teaching load at Thirdway.
7. We bought a house – in June we moved into our new house and we have made it our home.
8. We are networking with other church planters/missional communities in the area.
9. We are starting a small business, Bags by Hand, that is making jewelry bags for a local jeweler, as well as hand bags, which are being sold locally. This will not only help to meet our financial needs, but will help connect us into a network of creative locally-owned businesses.
10. We are developing a healthy, balanced rhythm of life for our family.
As my perspective shifts, and I begin to embrace the victories of this past year, my focus is moving from myself and my shortcomings to God and His faithfulness. With that, my “need for grace” is being transformed into a voice of gratitude. And, my demanding expectations of perfectionism are moving toward contentment in God’s goodness. This seems like a simple shift in perspective, yet it makes such a vast difference in how I understand this past year.
As we quickly approach the end of the year, won’t you take a few minutes to consider your year from the perspective of “embracing the wins in your life.” Most will find, as our family did, that there is much to be thankful for.
May you have a wonderful Christmas filled with joy and gratitude,
Bryan, Daleen, Kyle and Zoe
