Don’t Leave Your Mess Behind

Don’t Leave Today’s Problems As Your Legacy To Others

I felt like pinching myself. I could not believe it. I was assigned a member of the government’s Senior Executive Service (SES) to mentor me for a year. He’d travel up from Georgia to Hampton Roads, VA to do business, and he’d stop by to see me. Sometimes we’d talk on a video connection.

One thing always struck me about our engagements when they concluded. When I expressed my appreciation for my mentor’s insights, he’d say, “…well, I get a lot out of this too.” It took me a while, but I get it now. It is great to leave a positive legacy.

A couple of years ago, I began meeting with an emerging leader of great promise. We often met at Starbucks before the pandemic. In a recent conversation, he expressed his appreciation for the insights I provided him. I told him, “…well, I get a lot out of this too.” I don’t think he gets it yet. It’s great to leave a positive legacy.

During this recent conversation, he expressed his frustration about a problem in the team he is leading. I knew the history of the group he referenced. I told him that the problem preceded his arrival and previous leaders never resolved it.

I told him how happy I was that he was frustrated because frustrated people change things. I encouraged him to be the leader who fixed the problem.

I spoke at my church yesterday, Bethel Temple in Hampton, VA. I gave a cryptic version of my efforts to leave a job that felt like a prison experience. I encouraged the Bethel family that bold action is sometimes required if they want to see change.

The audience applauded when I told them that I took bold steps to get out of that job situation until I said that I ran into Goliath. Goliath, in the form of my major Department Executive. He pulled me into his office and went into a rage; he told me I was quitting on my team, pointed at his office door, and shouted, “Hit the Road!!”

As I left his office, I heard these words in my spirit: “he just kicked you out of his office and into your future.” I was DEVASTATED and encouraged. Before the day ended, the Lord challenged me to face Goliath, not just for myself but for my children’s sake. What??!!

I realized that if I did not conquer this bullying spirit, my children would have to wrestle with it. Perhaps this sounds strange to you, but I knew this to be true. 

Likewise, if that emerging leader I am mentoring doesn’t deal with that problem in his team, his successors will have to. 

We need to clean up our mess!

Be the type of leader, mentor, parent, or coach who resolves problems. Don’t Leave Today’s Problems As Your Legacy To Others. 

I faced Goliath. I fought the uphill journey to get out of that job in his Department. 

It took nearly a year of struggle, but I got out of that prison-like situation and landed my dream job. Then something strange happened.

That senior leader who kicked me out of his office came to respect me greatly. I still respected him. I knew it was just a test. “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (Proverbs 16:7)

My trouble proved to be God’s catalyst to propel me forward in His plan for my life.

I mentioned that I spoke at my church yesterday. At the end of the message, I challenged the audience to release their faith in three areas:

• To resolve our church debt.
• To expand our Livestream broadcast nationally and internationally.
• To restore supernatural manifestations of God’s power in our services.

Let’s wrap this up with a discussion on the first point. 

I’ve been a member of the Bethel Temple since 1994. Upon arrival, our leadership lamented being hamstrung by significant debt. They imagined great outreach opportunities if we could liquidate the debt, but over the years we’ve made little progress.

That’s nearly thirty years of missed outreach opportunities.

How do you liquidate the debt in post-pandemic America? Well, God delights when His people believe Him to do the impossible. At some point, we must confront Goliath.

Our church is blessed to have a pastor committed to debt liquidation, and we are grateful for that. Nothing significant changes without engagement, commitment, and dogged determination. 

We need to clean up our mess so we can leave our children a positive legacy. 

Let’s resolve to do this in every aspect of our lives because it starts with us!

I enjoy mentoring others. I get to tell them stories like how I saw Goliath fall. When they tell me how they appreciate my insights, I tell them, “…well, I get a lot out of this too, ” but I don’t think they get it yet. It is good to leave a positive legacy. God Bless! Press On!! Kevin

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. (Proverbs 13:22)