I'm really trying to help our team develop what I'd call an eye for excellence.
I really believe that excellence honors God and small things make a huge difference. It's the broken window theory. For example, something as subtle as the color of a room or color scheme of a website can totally dictate your emotional state. A few degrees difference in room temperature can dicate how alert or sleepy you are. The sound level and light level in an auditorium is the difference between feeling awkward and comfortable. And something that seems as inconsequential as a church bulletin immediately creates positive or negative expectations and perceptions.
I think Jesus had an eye for excellence. I love what Dorothy Sayers said: "No crooked table legs or ill-fitted drawers ever, I dare say, came out of the carpenter's shop in Nazareth."
I'm preaching on integrity this weekend. I think one dimension of integrity is excellence in the little things. It's not just doing the right thing. It's doing the right thing the right way. The big idea this weekend is: don't cut corners. It's based on the story of David cutting off a corner of Saul's robe in I Samuel 24.
The ancient principle has never changed: "You have been faithful with a few things I will put your in charge of many things."
I really believe that excellence honors God and small things make a huge difference. It's the broken window theory. For example, something as subtle as the color of a room or color scheme of a website can totally dictate your emotional state. A few degrees difference in room temperature can dicate how alert or sleepy you are. The sound level and light level in an auditorium is the difference between feeling awkward and comfortable. And something that seems as inconsequential as a church bulletin immediately creates positive or negative expectations and perceptions.
I think Jesus had an eye for excellence. I love what Dorothy Sayers said: "No crooked table legs or ill-fitted drawers ever, I dare say, came out of the carpenter's shop in Nazareth."
I'm preaching on integrity this weekend. I think one dimension of integrity is excellence in the little things. It's not just doing the right thing. It's doing the right thing the right way. The big idea this weekend is: don't cut corners. It's based on the story of David cutting off a corner of Saul's robe in I Samuel 24.
The ancient principle has never changed: "You have been faithful with a few things I will put your in charge of many things."
8 Comments:
That's exactly what I've been seeing lately. The little things, make a huge difference. I think a lot people miss these things partly because they are often intangibles. They are matters of opinion; but they are also matters of culture. The smallest things can help create or destroy culture. Part of a leader's job is to make sure the smallest things are done so that the desired culture becomes a reality.
Most people won't work hard enough to make sure the seemingly small things are done well.
I'm curious. How do you connect "don't cut corners" with David's cutting off a corner of Saul's robe? Surely David's mighty men wanted David to go all the way and eliminate Saul, but that would have violated one of David's key values -- respect for authority.
When David cut off a corner of Saul's robe it pricked his conscience. I think integrity has alot to do with our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit in those "gray areas".
That's the short version :) I think the message will play out the whole story and how it relates to the average person in the average workplace. There are some great transferable principles.
Mark
Stumbled upon your blog. reading this is encouraging to me. I visited a church recently and was so disappointed with the lack of excellence....it was everywhere. I wondered if I was just being nitpicky or if those seemingly trivial things like dingy painy and 50 year old nasty brown carpet were also a distraction to other people. granted most of this tiny church population is over 65 and might not actually be able to see all of the things that I saw :) I can only imagine that there are a lot of churches that struggle with this issue of there being so many "little things" that need to be done that they simply do not know where to begin.
Here's to excellence!
I also just stumbled on your blog -looking forward to reading more. Yes excellence is so important. It's a priority in our church and something you take for granted until you go somewhere where it's not regarded highly. Excellence allows people to be comfortable in their surroundings so they don't need to be thinking of anything except what God would have to say to them and their worship to Him - it provides a sense of security too I believe. Goes hand-in-hand with a place being run in an organized fashion. Most churches are organized on a Sunday etc but one thing that really aggravates me as a woman is when I go to other women's function and everyone is so loosey-goosey ... like oh we're just all christian ladies here together .. just let the Spirit lead. Why do women deserve less than the best?
Oh I do beleive in being lead by the Spirit - don't get me wrong!
Mark,
First of all, love the blog....it's not only thought provoking, but interesting and well written...and I've got your book on order! I love this post...borrowed your quotes and wrote my feelings about it on my blog! (also linked to you....gotta give credit where it's due!) Thanks for writing and know you're encouraging people like me from all over the world!!
Man.I'm always telling my kids that integrity is doing the right thing when no one is looking. Which leads me to hate the stop light on 34th and Q. It is the little things.
Mark I am trying to find the post about your weekly schedule and whemn you have meetings on what daysd?
domn
Post a Comment
<< Home