Genesis Day 51: Creating a New Culture…Don’t Stop Short (Part 3 of 3)
This is the third post in a three-part series on creating a new culture via the story of Jacob. Click here for part one, and here for part two.
“Look, we’ve come a really long way. We have achieved what we wanted to achieve. We don’t need to jeopardize all we’ve accomplished.”
That is a phrase you will hear when you are driving for change. Why? Because to arrive at your destination you most likely will need to “cement” your changes. And that normally means facing some final, large obstacles.
In corporate life those large obstacles involve some of the deep “systems & structures” and “property & processes” that still are hanging around. If the change is in our individual lives these obstacles might be old friends, organizations we still stay connected with, or even some of the “stuff” hanging around our homes.
My point is that as you move forward, you actually will see changes implemented. Those new ways will come about largely by your will, and the will of others. Energy will be put into lives to drive change. But you can only sustain that for so long. Without overcoming those final obstacles, your energy will wane, and the old culture will be ready to creep back in.
In my story above, we were facing changing some deeply-rooted policies that were going to require external approval. A ton of work, to change policies that would live in a manual few people ever read. The logic? “Why bother? Nobody ever reads that thing.”
Chapter 31 of Genesis ends with Laban departing Jacob. You and I, if we were in his shoes, might say, “I’ve done it. I’m free!” Jacob has separated from Laban. He has all his family and flocks. He is by himself. Time to put down roots.
Jacob might rationalize, “Why bother to go back to my brother? All it will do is open up old wounds.”
Yet stopping now is stopping short of the Vision—God’s Vision.
God is all over this part of Jacob’s life.
Consider: in verse 1, God’s angels meet Jacob. I wonder if the angels remind Jacob of the destination.
To accomplish what needs to be accomplished is tremendously personal. 400 men are coming to meet Jacob, and in his mind, it is to kill him. Look at his actions. He divides his family and separates from them. You can feel the weight of all Jacob has done—leading his family to this vision—come upon him.
He prays to God. Jacob’s prayer in verses 9–12 is perhaps a prayer of desperation. It is also tremendously honest. It’s personal.
And it doesn’t stop there. Jacob literally wrestles with God. He won’t let go until he receives God’s blessing. He is committed to this God-given vision.
And here is the deal. Want to change your corporate culture? What to change yourself? It needs to be personal. It will be a long road.
It needs to be personal enough that we don’t stop short.