How to kill anything slowly…

Maybe it’s just a man thing. But I suspect that it isn’t. Why don’t we ask more questions?

I can’t remember where I read this but here was the concept: Organizations are like people. They start out as children--asking questions and seeking answers,

“Can this be done better?”
”Is there a different solution for this problem?”
“Why do we do this?”

As a result, the organization grows because of its innovation and flexibility. Then, just like children, the organization grows up and gets comfortable. It moves into “if it ain’t broke – don’t fix it“ mode. Growth slows because “We’re grown up. We know this industry.” Bottom line? They stop asking questions and they slowly and sometimes painfully die.

Here's the powerful application to life...

How to kill anything slowly: stop asking questions.

How to kill a marriage? Stop asking beautiful questions like: “How are you, my love? I mean, really, how are you?” “Anything I can help you with, honey?” “How can I pray for you?”

How to kill a child-parent relationship? Just quit asking, “What are you afraid of son? Who’s your best friend? How was your day? How can I pray for you?”

How to kill a conversation?

How to kill an employee’s joy in work?

How to kill a sermon?

A friendship?

Stop asking questions. Stop learning. Stop growing.. and watch it slowly die. Or, breathe some life into those withering, dying things and ask some beautiful, powerful questions.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

So, a few days ago, I'm in Sitka, Alaska. We're on a pier and we walked by a fish cleaning station.A man is cleaning a halibut and simultaneously I hear voices around me, "Ewwww! That is so gross! That stinks!" The man is gingerly sliding his sharp knife between the skin and the delicate flesh of the halibut. Me? I'm thinking, "Wow! Wonder how he caught that? Just imagine a fresh halibut steak on the grill!"

It reminded me of this truth: what you see depends on who you are.

In John 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well. While the disciples go into town food, Jesus does some fishing. The woman is flabbergasted, "How does he know so much about me?" Meanwhile, the disciples get back from town with lunch:

"Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?”" (John 4:27)

It's obvious they don't see what Jesus sees: a woman who is thirsty for something other than water. What do they see? A Jewish holy man talking to a Samaritan woman--something that wasn't cool. He corrects their vision:

"Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest." (John 4:35, emphasis added). 

So what will you see today? 

• A frustrated, unpleasant waiter? Or someone who's really thirsty for living water?
• One more person in your overcrowded office? Or someone you can love and show a kind welcome to?
• Will you focus on those missing from your group Bible study or small group? Or the ones who showed up?
• A rowdy teenager in McDonalds? Or maybe a kid from a broken home who needs some tenderness or silent prayer?
• Another mess your children made? Or a moment, a memory, of childhood that is quickly passing? 

What do you see? It all depends...