Faithful Leadership: Why Growth Matters Now More Than Ever

Death starts when we stop learning new things, maintaining old things, and being curious about life. That is why so many people die in the thirties and are buried in the eighties (or nineties). However, it doesn’t mean we are always headed up and to the right regarding growth. During the holidays it is easy for me to get out of routines or habits in many areas of life simply due to travel, family, and celebration commitments. I have found that I don’t need to feel guilty or ashamed, rather I need to reintroduce my habits as I settle back into my life.

Why Growth Should Feel Uncomfortable

The good news is that I am uncomfortable with the lack of healthy routines in my life during the holidays. It shows that I have not checked out and am ready just to ride the rest of my life out and slowly die. I think some people are more comfortable with slow death than the effort of healthy habits.

At this point in my life, I am still aware of certain measures of health and growth for me. I still care about:

• My weight

• Learning new things

• Books read

• Intentional pouring into people

• Physical conditioning

• Time usage

• Learning new technologies

• Serving people

• Being kind to others

• My appearance (clothes, hair, shaving, etc.)

• People’s names

• Spiritual exercises

• Emotional defenses, insecurities, or inappropriate reactions

The point at which I no longer care about these is the point when I begin to die. This is why have said since I was in my 30s that a lot of people die in their thirties and are buried in their eighties.

The Gradual Decline: A Warning Sign

I don’t think this is often a result of a sudden juncture or distinct point where people decide to give up slowly. It could be an accident, heart attack, or similar event. But, more often it is a gradual progression of letting go of one area, then slowly another one. As with most things in life, degradation happens so slowly that we don’t notice it until we are well down the road. Sometimes, we are so far down the road that it is almost impossible to return.

The Relationship Between Aging and Growth

I think aging is deciding which of these areas to let go. Obviously, at some point, we will have to let some of them go, but it appears to me from watching others, that we do so much earlier than necessary; this is what expedites the aging process. When people ask how we have stayed so young, I think it is simply paying attention to these kinds of young indicators, that we continue to grow, learn, and intentionally develop in most areas of our lives.

Our recent move to SC has kept us growing in many of these areas when it would have been much easier to remain in the old patterns of what we knew in Orlando. I am not suggesting everyone should move states when they are in their 70s, but we need to be looking for areas where we can continue to stretch and grow, regardless of our age.

Biblical Inspiration for Growth

I love how Peter emphasizes this in 2 Peter 1:5-9.

Notice how Peter tells us to keep adding these eight attributes to our lives if we desire to be effective and productive. Then he mentions others who do not intentionally work on these attributes do so because they have forgotten what Christ had done to redeem (purchase) their life. Therefore they are neglecting how their lives are a gift to be developed and invested for him. As with any gift, we honor the giver by how we receive and use the gifts we were given.

I am going to receive and invest the gift of my life well. This means I will continue to grow in as many areas of my life as possible and thereby honor my God as long as he gives me the breath to do so.

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