June 15. Floating Thorns Make Swimming Unpleasant.

Leaders of multi-generational businesses may have hidden obstacles. It can be one of the most challenging areas for successors to overcome. That which we know are obstacles seem to draw our attention and our fear. We must prioritize, overcome our fears, help our teams to overcome their fears and lead.

That seems daunting enough, let alone having possible lurking challenges waiting in the dark for our companies. If leaders from the past have left hidden obstacles, they can be like mines waiting to explode for the leaders of the present or future.

Those issues might have been issues that simply did not get completely resolved. If so, the people with those challenges may be waiting for others who have less knowledge, experience, or confidence to become the new leadership. When that happens, the obstacles might attack with a vengeance.

Have you asked a previous leader this question, "What are the three dangers of the past that might come up again under someone else's leadership?" If you are thinking about that transition going forward, it might be a worthy conversation for your successor. What is the first thing you can do in the next seven days to address it? 

King David of the Old Testament was a great warrior, combatant, leader, and man of God. His kingdom eventually was handed to Solomon. In 1 Kings 11:1-25 NLT, we read about where the kingdom begins to fall apart. The enemies and uprising of the kingdom came from where?

You might have guessed it because of the notes before. They came from the enemies of King David. The victims of King David's conquests are the ones who return to help weaken Solomon's rule. That does not sound like forgiveness to me. I can relate to that.

Sometimes I can hold a grudge or get wrapped up in it, thinking it has to be my way. I think I have said more than once, as a parent, "because I said so." When I do that, I just might be creating an issue down the river.

Upstream, I might have resolved the problem for now, but the current might just move that problem on down for someone else. The problem might even spread throughout the river polluting the entire ecosystem. It might be out of sight, but it was not resolved.

Where might we have created an issue that we have simply floated on down the river where it is out of sight? Has it happened at your home, maybe at work, or even in your church? Wait a minute, it is not your church because it is Christ's church. He left no lingering issues.

What can you do to address the limits of the obstacles you might be encountering or that we have placed and forgotten about? What is the first thing that you can do about it in the next seven days?

Let us pray, Father God, you see it all and you know it all. Help us this week to see past our first impressions, past the challenges and conflicts of the day. Inspire our answers and bring us clarity to seek resolutions that solve issues to their core. May they be neutralized and dissolved where they are created.

Help us to see where we have allowed issues to float and move past us. Allow us to send messages to those who are down river or send us ourselves downstream as needed to help with the cleanup. May we be humble and ask for forgiveness as we seek to repair and restore.

May your name be honored and glorified as Christ walks with us on this journey. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,