It’s less than a month until the exciting Synergy Conference in Orlando. The conference is called “Conflict in the Story: The Shaping of a Leader’s Soul.” I’ll be doing a workshop on Living the Gospel in Uncertain Stories. This week I’ll post some thoughts related to these topics. Today we have a guest post from Angel Richard, of the Executive Leadership Team of Synergy.

“If you had a whole day free what would you do?”

The question came to me in a small group setting and the answer came immediately to mind.

“I’d go somewhere beautiful to sit and think.” You see I’m addicted to thinking.

Though I can’t go somewhere beautiful for the day right now I have been thinking.

Thinking about conflict.

I’ve Googled for the definition, for quotes, and for concepts. I’ve asked people what comes to mind when they hear the term and interestingly enough there are a lot of different answers.

One insight recently came when I noticed the words combined with conflict like “manage,” “avoid,” “quickly resolve.” I bring this up because all writers and readers know that conflict is essential to the plot when you talk about story. Without conflict there’s no plot, no movement, and nothing interesting in the story.

But I don’t typically think that way about the story of my life or the plotline of my leadership. I’ve tended to spend large amounts of energy managing, avoiding, and quickly getting rid of conflict.

So here’s my recent thought, “Would it serve me better to think of “conflict” as essential if not “holy ground”? That’d be a twist.

As a leader my default mode is to think the plot of the “story” for my team or me is accomplishing the task at hand. Though we all have goals to meet I am starting to massage the idea that the conflict I engage whether internally or externally, positive or negative, may be more important in shaping the kingdom of God within me than most of my efforts to shape the kingdom of God outside of me.

I’m not alone in my thoughts as I read this week a quote from Donald Miller about stories that resonate, “Without the conflict the character can’t change. The conflict drives the story because it drives transformation. “

There you have it; conflict is the “holy ground” of transformation. The very thing I avoid will actually take me to the very thing I long for. I’ve got an unending ache for those I know and our world at large to experience transformation. Myself included. In order to get there I think my first step is to re-think how God uses conflict in the story to shape our souls.

To do that I’m heading to the upcoming Synergy2010 conference: “Conflict In The Story: The Shaping Of A Leader’s Soul.”

It’s a weekend where the speakers, Carolyn Custis James, Michelle Lloyd-Paige, and Scott McKnight, along with the workshops will explore this theme in ways that will help my team and me understand ourselves as leaders along with the task at hand.

Join us, bring some friends, and let’s look at why conflict is not only necessary but good for a leader’s growth.

Chew on Jesus’ call to us today:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I’m staying warm in my vehicle , waiting till the last minute to board the bus that will take me back in to town so I can run 15k over two gorgeous bodies of water. Typing on my Iphone, I’ll tap some impressions:
What was I thinking?! This was an intermediate goal on the way to training for the Country Music half, and I can run 8 miles now. Inside, on a treadmill, watching Pirates of the Caribbean.:)

Today, the wind is blowing about 17 knots. We will likely run straight into it. I will be standing in the cold wind for about 30 minutes waiting to start.

I will have to use a portapotty. At least once. Maybe twice.

I will limp around the house for the rest of the day, possibly the week.

But with all that whining done, I’m still glad I’m doing it. I’m about to board the bus. I love the pre- race chatter, people from all over , some newbies, some oldies, all bound together by the joy of being able to live and move and have our being in this way.

I love the military guys that run in rhythm, booming their chants as they pass.

I love the girls’ volleyball teams who sling water at us as we trot by.

I love my first memory of running, when I had to run 4 mimes down the mountain of a pioneer camp. We had to memorize this verse, one that has served me well in many seasons: “therefore, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us throw off the sin which so easily entangles us andrun with endurance the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and sits at the right hand of God the Father…”

Running a 15 k or not, not a bad verse to focus on. Today. It’s time to board the bus. Pray I run a good race as I will for you!

ADDENDUM:
That was surprisingly not that hard. As it turned out, the wind was at our back, gently propelling us forward the whole time (It’s a one-way run). I’m pretty sure there’s a metaphor for me in that. It had never occurred to me that the wind could actually help me. I wonder how often I assume the worst about circumstances, only thinking of the negative instead of wondering what kindness from God might be in them.
Oh, and I forgot another favorite thing about running long races — all the food you get to eat for the rest of the day:)!