02.10.08
Is there space for both of us?
Our team just finished its twice-annual planning retreat. I look forward to these times together, and always love to see how God is going to direct His church here in Ancona.
I have a teammate who is pretty much opposite from me. He’s a thinker, a philosopher, loves reading books with unpronounceable authors, and is more liberal that I am in almost every area. And I honestly wondered before this retreat if I we could ever get on the same page. I like reading, sort of. I really don’t like the philosophical ping-pong of ideas. And I’m pretty conservative in my thinking. So is there space for both of us on this team? Are we doomed to frustration and irritation? Will he constantly see me as this stuffy, boring, uptight guy who needs to be free? Will I always roll my eyes at him, thinking he needs to grow up a little and be a little more disciplined – and for heaven’s sake tuck in your shirt?
I have to confess that the answer really surprised me. We never did come to blows. We never argued, in the negative sense of the word. There were times where I had to stop and pinpoint where he was coming from. And there were times when he wanted to explore the outcome of my way of thinking. We may have scratched our heads a couple of times at each other, but at least I was able to learn something in the process. And I think our team (and the church) is better off for it.
It’s the beauty of this crazy kingdom that God is setting up here.
Tim said,
02.11.08 at 6:01 pm
Josh is so hard to get along with. He’s read far too many books, and he’s constantly telling you to read more… which you already know you should be doing, but there’s only so many hours in a day.
I love Josh Furnal, and I’m glad that you guys are opposites. He needs someone to bounce stuff off of, and so do you.
God bless,
Tim Mitchell
sqjtaipei said,
02.15.08 at 7:49 am
Furnal’s impossible… I don’t know how you work with him.
Of course… I say the same thing about you on his blog.