It’s been so long since I’ve written in this format, that I feel I need to let you know what I’ve been up to.
I’d never planned to take a hiatus from blog writing. It happened more to me, than I to it.
Let me explain.
In May, I was asked if I would lecture at Newlife College, a tertiary education institution, at which I had previously been a tutor. The subject was Beyond Sunday. Twelve weeks on how faith is an active ingredient in people’s lives outside of the four walls of the church.
This coincided with an approach from City to City to teach their Incubator. A two year course for church planters, on the Gold Coast. That resulted in a semester of lecturing, which will continue for the following 3 semesters.
Then Uniting Care QLD invited me to provide some leadership training, on an ongoing basis, to their executive teams.
Amongst these amazing opportunities I’ve also done a lot of coaching. Add in coaching leaders and writing a few articles for different publications, my load has been full.
The downside and reality of these opportunities is the preparation they demand. Most require an extensive amount of reading, writing, thinking and then there’s the delivery.
Recently someone enquired why I hadn’t written in a while, which caused me to reflect. The reason I arrived at wasn’t a lack of time. We always have enough time to do the things that are important to us and this is important to me.
I find enough time to get out and about a take photos (albeit at ridiculous times in the morning). If you’re interested you can have a look here, www.ralphmayhew.photography*
*Shameless plug now out of the way.
The reason I haven’t been writing much lately was because of a drain in my creative mental energy.
I have found the process of lecturing, teaching and church planting absorbs a great deal of creative mental energy. This leaves not much left to spend on other writing endeavours, such as this. Having said that, I do have a few ideas I’m developing, to release soon.
So here’s what I’ve learnt, which may help you, as you, like me, likely try to juggle too much at times.
- You only have so much creative mental energy, choose what’s most important in to invest it in.
- Don’t finish a season of life with the knowledge you could have (within healthy boundaries of course) given more of what you had, but chose not to.
- Leadership is often about how you invest your influence with most effect and wisdom.
- How you invest your influence will be determined by the season you’re in and the opportunities before you.
- How you invest your influence will determine what that season of your life looks like.
- Don’t let others, or circumstance, determine what you invest yourself into, be intentional and ask God first.
- It’s OK not to do everything all the time. Enjoy the ride, you only get to take it once.
I hope these simple thoughts both explain what I’ve been up to and help you engage in the things that are before you with wisdom and excitement.
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