Ordering one’s private world is key to effective ministry
::
02/15/10
Gordon MacDonald, noted author and speaker, led a
discussion, “Life Issues Conversation: Inside Our Private World” on Friday,
February 12. MacDonald, who served as a pastor for 45 years and authored
several books, shared candidly about his life and ministry experiences.
Identifying spiritual fatherhood as “the call God’s given me in my later
years,” MacDonald spent the hour dispensing his wisdom in a humble and paternal
way.
“A lot of men and women do their best work before they turn
40,” he stated, “because they do it on the basis of their natural giftedness.”
MacDonald admitted that in the early years of his own ministry, he leaned
heavily on his own natural talent for pastoral ministry and lacked a deep
spiritual life. At 31 MacDonald was facing burnout and realized, “My natural
gifts have taken me this far and probably won’t take me any further.” He called
that a “defining moment” in his life, at which point he decided, “I want to
strategically plan my life so my best work will be done in my second half.”
The key to doing that best work, according to MacDonald, is
having one’s private world in order. Quoting Confucius, he observed, “If there
is not order inside of you, there will not be order outside of you.” The
private world was defined by MacDonald as “the world of inner space, under the skin,”
and he acknowledged that it is a deep and complex place where “energies and
forces are constantly ambushing and surprising me."
MacDonald pointed to Jesus as the perfect model of an
ordered private world and gave four suggestions to get one’s own private world
in order. First, one must be aware of experiences, relationships, and hurts
that are shaping his or her present and deal with them accordingly. Second, it
helps MacDonald to have a sense that his conversion and call are leading him
into the future. “Conversion is happening in the present,” he said. “There is a
sense where I accept Jesus as my Savior every morning.” Next, MacDonald
suggested that one pursue disciplines that maintain a healthy state of body,
mind, emotions, and relationships. Finally, he stressed the importance of
personal community in one’s life, sharing that the main reason for his past
failure was a lack of friendships. MacDonald has now been in the same small
group for over 15 years and states, “God probably speaks more to us through our
friends than in any other way.”
Near the end of his talk, MacDonald predicted that some of
his listeners might see his suggestions as too meticulous. “I’ve seen what an
unstructured life looks like,” he explained. “And I don’t like it!” His book Ordering
Your Private World expands on MacDonald’s suggestions for the structured
life.
The talk was sponsored
by the Brehm Center for Worship, Theology and the Arts; Office of Alumni/ae and
Church Relations; and Doctor of Ministry/Continuing Education programs.
Gordon MacDonald was
also the lead speaker at the Brehm Center's Worship Conference, "Forming
Hearts, Creating Art," held the following day, February 13.