LOVING YOUR SHADOW | People of the Second Chance

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darth-vader
Posted by Mike Foster: POTSC Tees $15

I’ve got a shadow. The dark side of my life. You know what I’m talking about right?

My thought life can be vicious. My father skills are infected by my own selfishness. At times I can be arrogant and condescending. (And that’s just the start of the list.)

I have light, but I also have a shadow. And you’ve got one too.

The temptation is to hide my darkness. But to deny it makes it stronger and more destructive.

Tony Schwarz from The Energy Project says, “the highest value is not created by focusing solely on our strengths and ignoring our weaknesses, but by being attentive to both. No where is this more critical in than in the way we see ourselves.”

So today, instead of trying to ignore your shadow, trying showing it a little attention.

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guychmieleski

Hey Mike!

I'm sure you've probably heard of it (if not read it) but Gary McIntosh and Sam Rima wrote a great book entitled “Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership”. Great read! Rocked my world the first time I went through it! A must read for anyone in leadership!!
http://www.mohan37.com/ mohan37

Right on. Secret sin is rendered way less dangerous when it's voluntarily exposed – prayed for, kept accountable, etc.
http://twitter.com/MikeFoster mike foster

ive heard of the book but never read it. i will have to pick it up. my ipad is needing some new good books
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=701908562 Jill Allen

Mike, I appreciated this post a lot & thought this “note” I wrote a couple of weeks ago seemed related -

http://www.facebook.com/jilllybean?v=app_234747…

I agree that it is really important to deal with the parts of yourself that are less than beautiful, generous, or kind – to deny them is to deny our human-ness – to confront them is to be able to work through them & perhaps guide others to do the same.
http://finallyhuman.com ian3008

You're so right. Yet how often are we told to hide it or to deny it or suppress it under the guise of 'walking in victory' or whatever.

Is there room enough on our pews for the shadow to sit next to us in church?
http://twitter.com/MikeFoster mike foster

great post jill! youre an awesome writer!…so true!
http://twitter.com/MikeFoster mike foster

i sure hope so!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1466290373 Jordan Bickimer

Amen to that. Just finished reading the entire Scott Pilgrim series, a sort of coming-of-age nerd comic. Throughout the series, Scott encounters what he calls the “NegaScott,” a shadowy version of himself that represents all his weaknesses and all his past mistakes. Up until the last volume he always runs from it or fights it so he can forget, but in the end he has to face the NegaScott and admit it's part of him . Without the memories and vulnerability accepting the NegaScott brought him, he never would have saved the day and the girl, too.
http://twitter.com/rodneywith4 Rodney Eason

My wife and I were talking tonight about the power of the tribe. One of our friends had a stroke and is in the hospital. An organic rally of community organized itself to help her family by watching the 3 kids all day so her husband can go to the hospital.
This same group which can rally around grace can also be at odds and gossip about small yet destructive stuff. Hope unites.
How can we apply the hope for what we can do to rally for others on a daily basis rather than talk about them?
A couple of years ago, I participated in a tea ceremony in Kyoto. The tea master said that we as Christians use our head too much. Religion is grounded in our head. The spirit is in our heart. It has the ability for good and bad. Meditation, prayer, and practicing kind acts strengthens the heart for good. Isn't it interesting that a Buddhist tea master can help clarify the power of God and Christ?
http://twitter.com/rodneywith4 Rodney Eason

My wife and I were talking tonight about the power of the tribe. One of our friends had a stroke and is in the hospital. An organic rally of community organized itself to help her family by watching the 3 kids all day so her husband can go to the hospital.
This same group which can rally around grace can also be at odds and gossip about small yet destructive stuff. Hope unites.
How can we apply the hope for what we can do to rally for others on a daily basis rather than talk about them?
A couple of years ago, I participated in a tea ceremony in Kyoto. The tea master said that we as Christians use our head too much. Religion is grounded in our head. The spirit is in our heart. It has the ability for good and bad. Meditation, prayer, and practicing kind acts strengthens the heart for good. Isn’t it interesting that a Buddhist tea master can help clarify the power of God and Christ?

Aug 2