“God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good, and He validated it completely.” (Genesis 1:31a The Amplified Bible)
Desiring to empower employees in streamlining processes without sacrificing quality, and simultaneously increasing the speed of production, a company’s team of managers went to visit another manufacturer, located in another state. That host company had successfully implemented a program where production associates, organized in work cell groups, played a key role in modifying processes and implementing improvement in the speed of manufacturing their products. Note that this was only one of multiple efforts made by the team of managers to identify best practices applicable to their business operations. In addition to site visits, for instance, the managers also read a number of books and articles related to the approaches that similar companies had implemented to improve productivity and profitability.
My experience with the visiting company above goes back over a period of 25 years ago. But my remembrance of the team’s efforts came to mind when standing in the only checkout lane open, out of thirteen lanes at a local store. I’m about 6 people behind, waiting to get to the conveyor belt where you place your purchases. I’m being as patient, as patient as one can possibly be. I’m actually doing pretty good in what is my challenging, need for development area: having patience. But then something happened. Describing that something in an analogous way, it was like a strong wind had blown a small train off the track. My patience dissipated internally.
The “wind” keeps blowing as the cashier picks up the phone and calls for a price check over the PA system. The line backed up with customers is stalled, actually comes to a standstill. My patience is put to the test. I start wondering if the store management had ever thought about looking at best practices. I waited, and waited, and waited. When an associate shows up to help the cashier, she takes the item back to see if she can find a price. Everything comes to a standstill. My patience begins parting, and I almost departed the store, and almost got out of line to leave my half-filled grocery cart near the magazine rack. Stop laughing! I didn’t. I waited, and waited, and waited. Here is the connection with the opening two paragraphs above. I thought, “Surely improvement in this process could be achieved if the store management would study best practices!”
Well, sounds like I’m complaining, but really, I’m just completely reporting what took place. I hung in there, waiting and waiting, and waiting. To make good use of my time, I started thinking about how the Lord is the One to look for in regard to best practices in terms of living as a Christian ought. I thought about the creation story and how things were done orderly, efficiently, effectively, and most of all, everything was done well. Since my wait was so long, I then thought about Jesus’ best practices, practices regarding love, forgiveness, reconciliation, judging others, interaction with people from diverse backgrounds, dealing with the unbelievers’ “noise,’ His communication techniques with the Father and with people, and I thought about how He developed His disciples. Perhaps what I did is a best practice to follow when your patience is tested. Stuck in a situation, start meditating, start looking at some Divine best practices. Don’t let Satan mess up your witness while you wait, and you wait, and you wait, in a store, a situation, or slow-moving ministry initiative. Meditate and then master the Divine best practices demonstrated by the Father and the Son. You can depend on the Holy Spirit to help you! He will! Praise God!
Remember my friend, we are to be His witnesses in all circumstances. Now, don’t criticize me. I said “we.” Smile! Hope I have helped you or encouraged you to depend on divine best practices. Be blessed!’
“They were thoroughly astounded and completely overwhelmed, saying, ‘He (Jesus) has done everything well!’” (Mark 7:37 The Amplified Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King