questioning Jesus

when I think of pioneering, of thought leadership, of innovating human connection and experience – all buzz words these days – I can’t help but lean into my faith and spirituality. don’t lose me here. I happen to be a Jesus-follower. but even if you are not, I think we can both agree that a guy from a middle-of-nowhere town, a carpenter, who needed only 3 years to establish a movement that people still give their lives to 2000 years later - that started with a band of fishing teenage boys no less – has a little something to say about leadership, pioneering, and challenging the status quo.

I happen to believe that Jesus was the best at doing this human gig, and I have a lot to learn. so, not to get woo-woo, but to stay curious: I have a lot more to learn than expertise to offer.

I read somewhere that Jesus asked about 300 questions as recorded in the Bible and only answered 3. what a challenge here – the emphasis on asking questions.

what if leading looks more like listening? what if connecting and empowering looks more like asking questions? what if power and authority look like serving?

stay curious.

in a world and culture not short of opinions, with everyone looking to be the next viral influencer, with more and more new “keys to success”, I think open-handed curiosity is powerful. Adam Grant put it best in his book Think Again, can we be open to acknowledge what we don’t know and be open to re-assess old, outdated assumptions?

if leadership is just influence, I would want my influence to be marked by human connection – loving my neighbor – and connection requires a window, an invite, an open door. there is no way I know everything about the human across the table from me, nor do I know all the wisdom their experience has taught them. collaboration, connection, clarity – all things that start with and are fueled by questions more than answers.