The status quo is attracted to and driven by paradigm; emerging vision is attracted to paradox, the not yet acceptable possibility. A couple days ago I sent a text the next morning to the group of people that had invited me to their new year’s eve soirée. I did so not only because of my thinking about para- words that had started long before my last post, but because it Is possible I have not been in the presence of such visionary folks in along time.
Dude #1 — A guy that has established paradigm busting call centers for companies all over the world amounting to literally tens of thousands of people he has employed in tough economic contexts . Just one of those companies is named for some fruit where he has helped them revolutionize customer service all over the world and set the bar for call centers. But the way he combines this with social entrepreneurship and helping the people around him in need made me tear up a couple times. His dream right now? Can’t divulge it. But imagine a guy that has done all this. Yea, he is bold audacious and moves with a confidence and humility that you can only say is bestowed from above.
Dude #2 — at 23 yrs old was making decisions for 14 million constituents as chief of staff for arguably the most prestigious AND influential govern-ship in the USA, all while still connected to politics enough to have had dinner with a former president a couple weeks ago is actually overseeing a division of a company influencing and creating a new paradigm of telecommunications globally and responsible for b-billions. His next dream? The magnitude of what it could do to help others? Unbelievable! I will have to keep you posted.
Gal #1– renovates downtown burned out, washed up districts. Acquires buildings, visions their future, ruthlessly executes and brings beauty, jobs, and quite honestly abundant life to what she touches. Compassionate, visioned, gracious and a lover of others. Her next desire? Using her influence to bring jobs to an economically depressed area to give people back their dignity.
Dude #3 saw a gap in the world of pharmaceuticals and thought there has to be a better way. He dreamed a way to help people get the meds they need all the while relieving doctors of the paperwork headache. His dent is a brand new one and it is practically and financially significant….uh… really significant.
Gal 2,3 dude 4-6 could also be profiled with similar summary resumes. But my point is already illustrated. They all believe they can make a difference…a huge difference. And they don’t just believe it, they are. They all saw a new way, a long shot new way…and acted.
The point? We live in a time of transition. That is not news. What is news to the holders of the current paradigm is that the smell of the death around the old, is a harbinger of death. Business, ministry models, and biblical message are always a product of a particular era, and all the signs point to them being on life support because this era is winding down.
The challenge of course is the current paradigm ALWAYS thinks they have the pure version. THE right way. But like all paradigms, business or religious, they are always couched in culture…always. Jesus came couched in culture…the bible calls it flesh. Christmas is the celebration of that cultural “fleshed-ness,”
So will it be current paradigms or emerging visions that come with the fuzziness of paradox.
For 2012 I am opting for the latter.
