Weekly Thought – September 26, 2017
Fred practiced mentoring by listening, asking questions, and applying principles. His ability to ask astute questions was part of his discernment gift which he developed through discipline and focus. We continue to provide questions he proposed to one of his monthly breakfast groups.
Thank you for praying for BWFLI. As we develop our 2018 and 2019 schedules, we do solicit your support.
Asking Myself
(The AM/PM group asked Fred to capture some of the mentoring questions they discussed monthly. Later on, the BWF Project asked him to give his thumbnail answers to them. Fred had no preparation – these are his top of mind responses while lying in his hospital bed.)
1) What are my areas of greatest discipline? We are most disciplined in the area in which we desire the most progress. For example, we can be highly disciplined in particular areas of our lives while remaining relatively undisciplined in others. I know musicians who are serious about their practice, but care little about their personal appearance! Or sadly, a singer may strive to perfect the singing skills while remaining a moral reprobate. Greatness always requires strict discipline. Exceptions and the desire to live that way are the enemy of discipline.
2) What do I learn and retain easily? I learn and retain those things that are most natural to me. I am convinced this is one of the indicators of our uniqueness. What I learn (and want to continue to learn) is a sign of my giftedness.
3) What destructive weaknesses do I have and how am I trying to buttress them? There are two things I need to know about myself – my constructive strengths and my destructive weaknesses. If the weakness does not work against the strength, I do not spend much time correcting it. I believe in developing my strengths and buttressing my weaknesses. I find a person will work much harder to improve strengths than correcting weaknesses. They have more energy displaying strengths than overcoming or improving weaknesses.
4) Do I expect more perfection from others than I do from myself? Generally we expect more perfection from others than ourselves because we understand our own limitations and not those of others. However, there are those who impose such high expectations on themselves they become difficult to work for and work with.
5) Am I willing to share credit easily? One of Canada’s most successful construction CEOs had this sign on his wall: “I can accomplish almost anything so long as I don’t care who gets the credit.” I find a great many problems in business are caused by those who want credit. Generally, they end up in competition with everyone.
This week think about: 1) Which question hits me hardest? 2) How can I use these questions in mentoring others? 3) What is God teaching me through Fred’s words?
Words of Wisdom: “I want to know two things: my constructive strengths and my destructive weaknesses.”
Wisdom from the Word: “After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” (Luke 2:46 NET Bible)