Reflections LEAD: Colin Powell

Colin Powell's presentation was a video interview with Bill Hybels at the conference. While not a real time presentation the interview setting worked surprisingly well from my perspective. I ended up taking quite a few notes and will try today to reflect upon one of his points.
Much of the interview was talking about some his basic statements of leadership that are apparently found in his book. Many of the statements are not new in the leadership genre but one that was very helpful for me to remember was, "Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier."
This statement reminded me of a speaker who I heard before my junior year in college at a leadership seminar that I was invited to attend as the student council president. I'll have to go back later and see exactly who it was that was speaking because knowing me I probably still have my notes. But any way, This gentleman was the last speaker of the week long event and among other things that I still remember from him is the challenge to "Be 10 times more enthusiastic." His point was that people love to follow people who are excited about life and about what they are doing. I think this is the same type of thing that Powell was trying to get across. People who are optimistic are attractive to other people. We search out folks who help us face life in positive ways. Our positive outlook on life gives far more energy through other peoples response than the energy it takes to expend. Optimism is not just helpful to the individual but it is a must for a forward moving organization, including the church.
This can't be a false optimism. It can't be a man walking through a rain storm saying it's going to quit raining anytime now for two hours straight. (think Charlie Brown standing on the pitchers mound) But rather a man walking in a rain storm saying, it's raining now, but it will quit eventually, we will all dry out and the sun will shine again. It has to be an optimism that is realistic but forward looking and able to communicate the positive possibilities that lie ahead.
How do we implement this in the midst of current reality at the church? This is a key question right now and there are a few folks who are not going to respond well because it seems like for them the sky is always falling. I think the key point is to name the reality as clearly as possible while at the same time painting a picture of what is going to be possible in the future. It has to express the hard work necessary and the sacrifices that might be necessary but all of that in the context of a hope filled future. It is that kind of optimism that will multiply our possibilities and invite others to be apart of what I think is the most exciting things in the world. That is the chance to be involved in God changing the world through a local church.
I know that I'm excited about the future and I hope that others are as well.