Lessons from Photonics

Photonics is the science of or study and application of light and its particle properties. Not excited yet? Without getting into quantum optics or optoelectronics, I'll keep this simple and to the point.

What's the difference between the light that is produced by a standard 60w light bulb by the lamp in your living room and a laser? To be fair, from a scientific view-point, there are a multitude. But from a leadership perspective- few.

A light-bulb produces a diffused light and the purpose is to light a large area of space, while a laser concentrates light into a beam. A bulb is designed to spread out the light and provide some light to a lot of space. A laser focuses the light into a narrow beam so that it can be used in a vast number of fields, from industry (think DVDs), military (laser-guided missiles), medicine (think laser surgery and hair-removal), research, and entertainment.

Are your passions, gifts, and God-ordained purposes being diffused into a lot of areas OR focused?

If you're a light bulb:

• you'll keep wanting to turn up the wattage to light more space (get more done),
• feel inadequate for the jobs at hand,
• feel guilty for not getting enough done and keep referring to the list that still needs to be completed,
• compete with others who are lighting the same or nearby area and feel threatened by brighter light bulbs,
• feel discouraged by the constant replacement of light bulbs around you. You've begun noticing that light bulbs are replaceable and exchangeable. What do I mean by this? It's not about doing what you love, just getting the "jobs" of ministry done, and if you can't do it, then the church sticks someone else in who can. "Punch and plug" ministry and service. You even begin to feel like maybe you should be replaced by a "light bulb" that shines brighter or is "longer-lasting",
• struggle with questioning if this is really why you were created. You ask often, "is this really what I'm supposed to be doing?" and feel this inner tug toward something more purposeful and meaningful,
• need as much affirmation as possible for the role you play (because you feel so insecure about your effectiveness), and want to pass the blame because you don't want to be seen as useless or unnecessary, i.e. not pulling your weight.
  

On the contrary, if you're a laser, you:

• recognize what you are specifically called and gifted to be and do,
• want to keep giving away responsibilities that you don't "love" so that others can fulfill their destiny, and so that you can stay focused on only what you should be doing and being.
  
• enjoy being focused and doing it and passionately embrace the challenges and struggles of that responsibility,
• at times, may feel overwhelmed, there's nothing you'd rather be doing,
• appreciate the laser focus and unique giftedness and passion of others, and want to see them succeed as well. You can see how necessary they are to the Church and are often amazed by their unique role, and even the fact that they enjoy doing what you can't stand doing or clearly have no gift or passion for,
• see the fruitfulness of serving together with others, and find that you are exponentially more effective when you work together with others who have differing gifts,
• can give away the credit with joy, so that you make sure others feel valued and necessary, and take the blame because you recognize your responsibility over the situation, and feel like you can improve on that failure next time.

Are you a laser or a light bulb? What would you add from your personal experience to this list of differences?