Action.

We are exploring 5 traditional coaching themes through the month of January from a contemplative lens. Planning was our topic last week, and we looked at how discernment brings us into connection with the divine will rather than merely trying to push our own will. May these explorations and practices offer you a fresh way of entering your new year.

Now it’s time for Action. No amount of visioneering and planning means much unless it flows into divinely-directed activity. Each of the four steps we’ve taken to this point have been infused with contemplative meaning, both by looking at fresh perspectives and engaging practical exercises to help us see ourselves and the world as God sees. And now we are beckoned to put those insights into motion.

By personality, most of us have an action-bias one direction or the other. Some are so quick to the trigger (ready-fire-aim) that they are constantly trying to manage the course of their action after hasty initiation. Others over-invest in research and planning and miss windows of opportunity from trigger-reluctance (ready-aim-ready-aim…). What we’re looking for is sober and steady movement from the readiness stage to aiming at the right target and then firing with confidence, trusting God to guide our action faithfully to its mark.

Faithfulness and stewardship are two excellent “counselors” for right action, the first inviting us to keep our eye steadfastly on the ball and avoid distraction, the second calling us to position ourselves as servants rather than masters. Both of these qualities draw us into right orientation in obedient partnership with God. We are co-creators in the mystery of life.

Power is the vital component here, and co-creation actively right-sizes our power. Power is not bad; we have been empowered by God for purpose. The Garden of Eden shows God sharing power with desire for the fellowship of partnership, granting us agency to use our resources in synchronicity with the divine will. Yet we have the tendency to try to control things, even good things, which leads to inadvertently boxing out the other Partner…with disappointing results.

Balance in the interplay of co-creation requires a flow between initiating and deferring, contributing and surrendering… Sounds like a dance doesn’t it? And it is! We are invited into the Circle Dance of the Trinity, not just in being but also in doing. What a mind-blowing opportunity. What ecstatic privilege. This is truly what we are made for.

This fantastic power-sharing between the human and the divine allows us to welcome God coming to us as our lives (as Rohr says): allowing everything, resisting nothing. Trusting that all things do indeed work together for ultimate good (Rom. 8:28), even the hard things, even evil things. Which is why Jesus could offer such ridiculous teaching as handing over not only your shirt but also your coat to the one who asks (Mt. 5:40). The Welcome Practice below (click the image below) trains our hearts in the way of trust and surrender. Try it for yourself today as your key to acting in joyful partnership with God…