It's Not About The Tools.

My dad is a Pastor by day and a carpenter by night.  I can remember going to jobs with him when I was young.   His whole tool arsenal would fit in the trunk of a old Buick LeSaber.  And it didn't matter how tough the job was he would get it done.  It would always amaze me what he could do with the little resources he had.  

So now that I've been doing this design gig for over ten years I have begun to analyze some of my short comings. Many times I would focus more on the tool or the lack of tools then the task in hand.   But the more I look at , the more I realize that it goes beyond a "stuff" issue but a "character" one.  It's really a inability to take personal responsibility for the actions I make or don't make.  

Now I have experienced this through my days of schooling and working in the secular market.   But now that I work in a church it seems to ring even louder.  So I'm calling out all my church designer peeps and my self included.  Quit complaining!  It's not about what you don't have.

It's Not....

• about the CS4 upgrade you have to have.
• about your Pastor/boss doesn't get you.  
• about the extra 2 gigs of ram you wish you had
• about the folder that doesn't fold
• about the budget
• about pc vs. mac.
• about what the other deisgner at the other church gets paid....
• about ____________________________ (fill in for your notes)

It's about getting out of the victim mindset and taking personal responsibility for the things I can control.

Some words that my pastor said this pass week really hit home.  While speaking on the grandness of what is going on heaven in comparison to what goes on here on earth, He said, "Three words that should be said regularly in every church, get over yourself." See I've been taught that's it's about my education, my copy rights, my portfolio but when something goes wrong it is never my fault.  Before I can be useful to anyone around me I need to get over myself.

So how can I change those around me.  It starts with I.   If I want to change my atmosphere I need to change myself.  It's about what I can do with the resources God has given me.  

This does not come easy to me, I really have to work on this everyday, just ask my boss.  But in the words of the great theologian Steve Harvey, "He aint' through with me yet!"  

God has definitely challenge me this week and I hope He does the same for you.  If you still need some more convincing check out this book I'm currently reading and this weekends message by Mitch Idol, It has the the quote I reference above.  

These are just my 2 pesos but If you agree can I get a AMEN!