In business logic we refer to "the lifecycle of organisations". It describes how a firm goes through a startup, restart or revival phase, followed by growth, then maturity or stability, before finally going into decline or a contraction phase.
A great example of the recent past was the Springbok rugby team, which in 2005-6 was in decline, partly because of politics, partly because old stalwarts were retiring, new, inexperienced players were still emerging and leadership was lacking. The team was hurting, directionless and dispirited. Then a new coach picked them up, changed the team composition and led the team back to glory and its second world cup triumph.
All organisations, including individuals, families, teams, churches, clubs, businesses and others, will find themselves going through various growth cycles. Just as the rings in wood describe painful times of death and decline, followed by seasonal spurts of spring and summer, so we all face seasons of dissilusionment. It can be triggered by the fact that old ways are challenged or are taken over by new technology, else existing team members may be at a point where they need to move - there are many causes.
Israel had many such moments in her long exodus. The first was the showdown with Egypt, which points to teh typical pattern of crisis that each new phase brings. As God prepares to move us into new phases, we will be challenged - either by life, circumstances, competition, our vulnerabilities or the discomfort of change. Yet, we will almost certainly pass through that, close the door on the past and settle into a new rhythm.
Later Israel faced struggles in the wilderness as they fought the ambiguities of trading past ways for new ways, but the process left them disempowered and vulnerable to external attacks. Nonetheless, God gave them a framework or model for their future and guided them into that future.
Later they came to the Jordan, spied the future and turned back, just as we are oft inclined to do when we see the future for the first time - it is too strange and scary to accept and the giants ahead seem too big.
Nonetheless, we will eventually come to hate the status quo and fight for a better future and challenge our giants, which will drive us over the river into our hopes. That will again face ambiguity, as external factors resist our advancement. All growth, every forward surge in life, will meet with resistance - be it gainsayers, doubts, fears, cash problems, resource issues, the size of the challenge, whatever. Part of the resistance facing Israel's advancement was people - so, maybe you too should accept that people inside your organisation, like Achan of old, can undermine your advancement and force you to make painful changes.
Well, once again, we will have to keep circling and wrestling with the issue until we break through our illusions and doubts, and our hopes become real possibilities. Often the resistance to our advance is spiritual, reflecting the opposition of the darkness to the advancement of light.
The point in all of this is to know that nothing strange has overtaken us, that moments of change are always accompanied by time sof contradiction and resistance, and that if we push through, we will progress.
(c) Peter Eleazar @ www.groundwon.blogspot.com
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