Focus on the Few

 bob-maclafferty  No Responses »
Feb 222014
 

Mass media. Mass Marketing. Mass emails. Bulk snail mails. Viral YouTube videos. It seems that so much of pop culture is focused on getting the attention of the masses. We devote significant energy and time to sharing a small, often trivial and insignificant message to a large audience, most of whom is unknown to us.

In the workplace, we insert information on time clocks, send email to companyname-everyone, and post to intranet sites. Often, non-personal email gets deleted out of hand. Eyes glaze over after seeing the same post or picture day in, day out.

At church, we give a bulletin to everyone that breathes, including dozens of line items and multiple inserts. Bulletin boards are so full of flyers and notes that the information becomes little more than a busy background.

Is there value in sharing information in bulk? Maybe. Certainly. Most of us need to hear or see something multiple times for the information to sink in. I wonder, though, if we actually think that we have successfully delegated our responsibility for sharing information when we shape it into a mass message.

They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were,  because he was teaching his disciples. Mark 9:30,31 NIV.

What did Jesus do? While He did engage in regular public speaking, He spent much focused energy and time sharing information with His disciples, the twelve who were most engaged with His mission.

How can I copy Him? By deliberately search out opportunities to communicate with individuals and small groups face to face. Finding the individuals most in need of encouragement and direction. Looking for the few individuals passionate about an issue and generating momentum through them.

As a leader, maybe I haven’t done my job until I have interacted personally with the individuals with the most need. Or the individuals with the highest degree of interest. I know that finding a handful of people for a short discussion about a work related issue can be very effective. 

Should our web presence be our primary method of making statements of priority? Whether sharing faith or workplace issues, let’s not forget the value of focusing on the few that we can reach face to face.

Related posts: My leadership vibe and leading by my values

Focus, Peter!

 bob-maclafferty, Uncategorized  No Responses »
May 292011
 

“Follow Me!” Jesus had shouted back at Peter as He continued to walk down the shoreline. Peter had leapt to his feet, eager to be with the One who loved Him most.

Peter ran, his sandals crunching on the gravel and sand. As he closed the distance, he began to hear another set of crunching footsteps not quite in time with his own. As he ran, he turned and saw John, his fellow disciple following. He was distracted, wondering what John was up to. Was John going to argue with Jesus about forgiving his betrayal? Was this another intra-disciple power struggle like the Passover supper scene? Why was John horning in on his moment with Jesus?

Panting, he finally caught up to Jesus. Hands on his knees, he bent, breathing deeply, out of breath from his sprint. Straightening, he looked up at Jesus, pointed back and said,

“Lord, what about him?” John 21:21 NIV.

What about that other guy, Jesus? You disciplined me. What will you say to him? Is he part of the conversation too? Why is he coming too?

Jesus looked straight into Peter’s eyes, willing him to take his attention from John and return it to Him.

“…what is that to you? You must follow me.” verse 22

I’m not talking about John right now, Peter. I’m talking to you! Never mind John, his ministry, his life, his death. Don’t think about his relationship with me.

Focus, Peter! Focus on Me, Peter! Look only at Me, Peter. Let everything and everyone else gray out around you and see only Me. You will do great things for Me. Your life will be a witness for me. But only if you focus on Me!

Father, let my circumstances, my friends, my job, the unkind words and actions of others, even my own sins, become grayed-out, dithered options on the desktop of my mind. Let me focus only on Your Son. Let the Spirit power me to turn my eyes only to Jesus. Let my vision of Him paint everything I do and say with Your Love.

Part 4 of a 4 part series beginning with Triple Rejection Before Sunrise and 153 Miracle Fish  and  Triple Commit after Breakfast.