![](\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/lre5detDKRXuU\/giphy.gif\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Lemons, huh, yeah. What are they good for? Absolutely nothin! Say it again y\u2019all.\u00a0 The last 24 hours of my life has been one big life box of lemons. However, as the narrator in Jane, The Virgin<\/em> in the television show says, \u201cbut we\u2019re not there yet.\u201d<\/p>\n The small blessing is that I read Leadersmithing: Revealing The Trade Secrets of Leadership<\/em> by Eve Poole before the arrival of the lemons.\u00a0 Poole\u2019s practical business management book is part theory based on research, and part how-to with \u201ccrafty essentials\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0 She invites leaders on an apprenticeship journey to hone their craft of leadersmithing through simulation experiences to create \u201cmuscle memory\u201d in decision making.\u00a0 Poole also provides a practical process to engage in honest self-evaluation and practice through \u201ccrafty essentials\u201d with the metaphor of a deck of cards.<\/p>\n My initial thought was that it was fortuitous to read Leadersmithing<\/em> this week.\u00a0 Currently, the church I serve is suffering from a \u201cone-two\u201d punch trauma. I recognize that my task to lead them through to the other side is requiring helpful partners – not unlike those who held Moses\u2019 arms up so the Hebrews could cross the Reed Sea.\u00a0 I saw clearly that Poole is one of those partners for me. Her approach to templating practice reminded me of Jesus instituting the Communion; \u201cevery time you do this, do it in remembrance of me.\u201d As I was planning the discernment process to guide the Session through their PTSD, I began thinking of other scriptural connections to templating to find entry points for having the Session engage in muscle memory. Poole\u2019s 4 pathways to learning also include self-regulation, reflective judgement, and learning to learn[1]<\/a>. All of these tethered me back to Friedman and Kahneman which in turn reminded me of other pieces to keep in mind as I planned my planning, namely self-differentiation and effortful thinking.\u00a0 I also was prompted that, \u201cleadersmithing is a masterclass in figuring out when to wait and when to press on\u201d[2]<\/a>. Discerning this balance, especially now, is a growing edge for me.\u00a0 I found several of the exercises she presented to be helpful such as the Ballroom Dance and the Nine-Dot Puzzle, as well as the writing a eulogy for the church. As I read on through the book, Poole encouraged me to be self-differentiated enough to understand and know the timing of timing: to not rush the timing of what session must process. With Poole as a partner, I was developing a thoughtfully planned and timed process to lead the Session into the Reed Sea.<\/p>\n Then, the delivery of lemons. What are they good for?\u00a0 Our monthly Session meeting was last night and part of the update for our preschool included the news that our teachers are fragile.\u00a0 Staff is stressed to their breaking point. We still are short staffed of teachers and there is a severe lack of applicants to fill positions.\u00a0 Because of this, the Elder informed us that she may not be able to keep rooms open because of the shortage.\u00a0 This Elder is also the Director of the preschool, who has been planning on retiring at the end of the year, advised us that the search process has been stalled because of such uncertainty.\u00a0 You might ask, \u201cso what?\u201d\u00a0 Well, the financial viability of the church is dependent on the revenue from the preschool. Big pile of lemons! Unfortunately, more lemons dropped later in the meeting when four of our six Elders decided they were too tired and busy for them to continue serving as Elders next year.<\/p>\n Disappointingly, all my joy while reading Leadersmithing<\/em> was pummeled to death by lemons.\u00a0 Basking in the lemon pool this morning has me very cynical about the future of the church I serve and as well as my personal future.\u00a0 Lemons, what are they good for? Oh wait, I have a great Margarita recipe:<\/p>\n 8 Limes<\/p>\n 2 \u00bd-3 Oranges<\/p>\n 2 \u00bd – 3 Lemons<\/p>\n 1 Cup of Sugar<\/p>\n 4 Cups of Ice Water<\/p>\n 1 \u00bd Cups of Tequila<\/p>\n \u00be Cup of Cointreau<\/p>\n Squeeze all citrus, add the other liquids. Shake well, serve over ice.<\/p>\n