Tag: Lao Tzu

Doing my best to find my way.

Getting Out of the Way

After several phone calls and emails, here is what I have found myself thinking about today.
If you have done your job well, then sometimes what is needed…
In being a leader;
In being a pastor;
in being a business person;
In being a parent;
Is, simply, to get out of the way.

A good friend shares this quote from the Chinese philosopher and poet Lao Tzu.
Go to the people.
Live with them.
Learn from them.
Love them.
Start with what they know.
Build with what they have.
But with the best leaders
When the work is done
The task accomplished
The people will say
We have done this ourselves.

Being

Lao Tzu, the Chinese philosopher and philosophical founder of Taoism wrote, “The way to do is to be.” I first stumbled across that snippet of wisdom years ago when I read the Tao Te Ching, but over the years the deeper meaning of Lao Tzu’s insight has mostly eluded me.
I have been much better at doing.
Keeping my calendar.
Working my way down my list.
Crossing tasks off.
Dreaming up new ideas to try.
Doing my best to meet expectations…my own and others.
To a large extent my identity has been shaped by what I have done.
Pastor.
Parent.
Coach.
Board member.
Community activist.
But, I am getting tired of doing and want to become better at being.
Being honest.
Being thoughtful.
Being compassionate.
Being kind.
When all is said and done, as it will be at some point, I hope I am remembered for the being part of me as much as the doing part of me.

Tags

Several things I believe: