It’s been a full week. Sunday afternoon saw me engaged in a series of pastoral visits – something, since being out of Parish ministry, I haven’t engaged with this intentionality in years. I loved it! My heart was grieved in visiting a woman in a locked ward in Hillmorton Hospital – who told me she’s been there 5 months – there was such a profound sense of the shear loneliness and abandonment that hung over her. And where was the church? I guess I’m it!
Leadership & Personal Development Resources
The story we tell ourselves (and why it’s often wrong)
This SmartBrief article by Psychologist Naphtali Hoff is essential reading. I can’t encourage you enough to read it, spend time with it, absorb it. The basic premise is that we all suffer from fundamental attribution error – the tendency to misjudge the missteps of others, attributing them to character defects, while giving ourselves free passes in similar circumstances. This is the best article I’ve come across on this issue – it gives a wise and compassionate understanding of what might be going on when we make judgements of others; how we can reframe how we see; the importance of curiosity rather than judgement as an appropriate response; and a recognition that others are likely assessing us through the same warped lens. The article can be engaged with here: https://www.smartbrief.com/original/the-story-we-tell-ourselves-and-why-its-often-wrong
The Leadership Trait You Can’t Fake Or Skip: Why Courage Comes First
This Forbes article (I hope you can access it) posits the primacy of courage in leadership. Without it, our leadership will be anaemic at best. Few articles I’ve come across have put this trait front and centre as this one does. It is worthy of significant consideration. The fear of being wrong, being alone in our conviction, of losing the approval of others, can stymie our effectiveness as compassionate leaders. This article can be accessed here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laureldonnellan/2026/05/03/the-leadership-trait-you-cant-fake-or-skip-why-courage-comes-first/
This Subtle Leadership Mistake Is More Damaging Than Failure
Following on, this INC article is sub-titled Indecision feels safe until it quietly becomes your leadership brand. The needs to be liked, the fear of getting it wrong – when it paralyses and prevents any forward motion, can be more damaging to an organisation (including churches) than mis-steps. The article can be accessed here: https://www.inc.com/jerry-colonna/decision-making-this-subtle-leadership-mistake-is-more-damaging-than-failure/91334609
Homilies and Preaching Resources
In my response to the lectionary Gospel for the 10th of May – John 14 vs 15-21, Jesus promises the companionship of the Holy Spirit. This leads to my title ‘Alone, Never Lonely’. It can be engaged with here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlCQQeBCUWg
Gospel Conversations – out of the Dunedin Anglican Diocese. They host a conversation of 4 Theologians / Practitioners. The site with all its options can be accessed here: https://www.calledsouth.org.nz/gospel-conversations/. Led by Michael Godfrey, rather than the Gospel text, they are focusing on other parts of the Lectionary. For this coming Sunday the 10th of May, they’re considering Acts 17:22-31. It can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95W3QDsHarQ
Rev Darryn Hickling (Methodist colleague leading the Rolleston Project) has posted a brief reflection on Instagram – focussing on John 14 vs 15-21, and titled ‘It changes everything’. It can be accessed here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX6GRf2BHD0/?igsh=NjR4ODdqYm51cDJp