How many times have we looked at an ornate vase and admired it for its beauty? When we do this we often times are not thinking of its hollowness or its intended purpose to hold something. We ascribe value to it based on its outward appearance. And yet if we filled that vase with crap or poison, and marked it as such how many people would ascribe a new mental image to it? I dare say most!
The point I’m trying to get at is the heart or contents is what truly determines a vessels value.
In a person if they have a good heart, regardless of looks, people still admire that. A beautiful person, if their heart is evil, will be viewed with disdain!
This concept fits precisely with how the culture of any group or organization will be created by its heart. And it’s culture and core values will always drive its public perception! There must be a progenitor a first of firsts. And that first will be the foundation on which all the rest will be built. And as the rest is built that foundation must be strengthened and bolstered by remembering it, to allow it to carry the load being built.
That is why I love The Barn in its simple, humble, real, and very authentic shell it holds the most marvelous heart of humility and I would include next to it honor. Yes there is a vision, a mission, and even mandates. But even those are really only part of the shell. It is humility and honor which fill the void and pump the necessary nutrients to all the parts and allow The Barn to grow into what God is forming and fashioning.
It is humility and honor which is causing the parts to connect and create, to grow and to mature. It has grown me, and it has held me accountable! Accountability I have needed! It has required me to honor and appreciate perspectives I would have scoffed at. It has made me see potential where others have not. It has allowed me gain things I tried desperately to acquire and could never reach. And mostly it has helped me grow closer to Jesus in ways that have revolutionized my other relationships and my life as a whole!
I will never be able to quantify what The Barn means to me or has done for me personally or my family. I can only look at where I came from and where I am now and where it is taking me, as far as I can see that is, and it is good! I could never have imagined this; I could never have imagined you all. I can only say embrace the culture. At the heart of Christ is humility and honor! If you want to see success in life He, humility and honor, is the way!
I look forward to seeing you all growing and going. For just as humility and honor are the heart of each of you, each of you are the heart of The Barn! The Barn, such a simple symbol, is bringing life giving truths, concepts and connections to our whole region, state, nation and world... through all of you!
Love you all, have a great week!
Shane McLean 5/19/2020