Vision Navigator

Having had a chance to reflect on my two days at the recent Innovation3 conference, put on by Leadership Network, I can sum up my experience in one word:

Dialogue

As opposed to a monologue, where your time is spent largely in venues designed for information transfer or one-way communication - either speaking or being spoken to.

Not to say that there weren’t great speakers. Quite the contrary. In fact, I’m still processing and reflecting on the content presented in both the main and breakout sessions.

My lasting impression of I3, however, will be the conversations I shared with so many great leaders and servants from across the country. Some old friends, some new ones, my Auxano peeps, and a ton of folks I knew via blog or twitter connections but had never met face to face.

What impressed me as well was the way dialogue was encouraged through innovative uses of technology. Which includes such things as:

• free wireless Internet service provided by Bent Tree Bible Fellowship
• use of the twitter #i3 hashtag, allowing a way for folks twittering at the conference to connect with and track one another more easily
• live session feeds and chatrooms on the conference website, which extended the reach of the conference beyond those who were physically present

And the dialogue continues. Through twitter, blogs, the live portion of the conference website, and other conversations I’ve had after the conference.

So why is this so significant? Consider the words of Jesus:

Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:19-20

Notice that? The emphasis is on two reaching an agreement, and two or more coming together in Christ’s name. Agreement and unity. Which is hard to forge when only one person’s doing all the talking.

The real value of I3 for me then, was its ability to stimulate dialogue. Conversations where two or more followers of Jesus, the Living Word, or logos, could share their thoughts, words, and experiences with one another. Reaching agreements, hearing Christ speak through each other, and forging lasting relationships.

I wonder what church leaders can learn from this? Is your church known more for creating dialogues or monologues? Is your primary communication style one of conversation or proclamation? What technologies do you employ to support your church’s communication strategy?

If you participated at I3, what were your impressions? What thoughts or key takeaways have impacted you the most?

Above is a picture from this past weeked of my son, Will, standing in front of a tower he helped a bunch of Boy Scouts and younger Webelos build, using nothing but wood spars and rope.

It was a great weekend — aided in part by a post I read on Jonathan Brink’s blog just prior to heading out that helped me to put our life and times in perspective.

The title of the post is We Are That Spoiled — it has a link to a great, hilarious video you have to watch that really serves as a reality check…

It’s so easy to focus on negatives and what we don’t have, isn’t it? So easy to become disatisfied with what we do have, and thirst for the ever elusive something “more.” So easy to be blind to the beauty and blessings that are all around us, and that are ready to be seen if we’re willing to change our perspective…

So, while I was laying on the cold ground in 30 degree weather, I thanked God for:

• my warm bed at home
• the chance to travel out to the woods and enjoy nature with my son and others
• a cell phone that takes pictures and sends them directly to my blog (how cool is that — even if the picture quality is somewhat spotty — see how easy the spoiled part can kick in?)
• dedicated adult leaders who willingly give of their time and talents to create leadership and growth opportunities for young men like my son
• cars that allow us to travel 100 miles in only a couple of hours
• fall colors — beautiful reds, oranges, and golds
• sleeping bags that enclose you like a mummy and keep you warm in 30 degree weather
• the flannel pillow case my wife threw in at the last minute as I was packing
• the way sunlight shimmers on the surface of a lake like thousands of diamonds, as the wind whips up little ripples and waves
• hot coffee in the morning, and hot chocolate at night

Have you checked your perspective lately? What sorts of things do you find yourself focused on of late? What’s one thing you’re thankful for that you often overlook?