As a kid I loved to skip rocks over the water. There was a pond near where we lived in San Diego. We used to count how many “bounces” we got because we wanted to see who the winner was. We would also see whose rock would go the farthest. Then from 4th grade to 7th grade I lived a little over a mile from the beach in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California. It was exceedingly difficult to skip a rock in the Pacific Ocean! Even as goofy kids we figured out that wasn’t going to work! So we’d just throw them as far as we could, hoping never to hit a surfer. The rocks just dropped and went deep real quick.
Surface and depth, life has a good bit of both. Skipping along the surface is kind of fun, but it doesn’t satisfy. There is something about depth that is needed to satisfy the soul. Even as a kid I remember thinking as I looked out on the ocean, “I wonder what’s down there?” Without diving in, I’d never know.
As leaders, we can’t spend much time skipping across the surface. Depth is required. We’ve got to dive in. Whether it’s about enjoying a more meaningful marriage, or understanding deep truths in scripture, or hearing God’s voice through fervent prayer, or digging deep to improve our leadership skills – nothing of lasting value or high impact is found on the surface.
That takes time. We’ve got to fight for time to dig deep.
It’s important to remember that depth in life and leadership isn’t complicated, it’s a choice. We can all dig in, the question is whether or not we will. Sometimes I think I’m lazy. For those who know me they would think that is crazy and say, “You’re one of the hardest working people I know.” But working hard isn’t the same as going deep. I have to push myself to dig in, and I do. I dig in order to learn new things, practice leadership at new levels, understand truth and apply wisdom with greater clarity, and even learn how to use my Mac in a way that impresses my twenty-something kids!
How about you? Where do you need to dig in?
