“Get all the advice and instruction you can.” ~ Proverbs 19:20
Many of the wisest people in my life have passed away as
I’ve aged. The stalwarts of good sense, judgment, and inspiration are no longer
available to me. So, one day when I heard a friend talk about his Spiritual
Board of Directors (SBOD) for advice on something, I listened intently.
Public companies have Boards of Directors that consist of
specialized advisors with diverse perspectives, expertise, and relevant
experiences. They have fiduciary obligations to act in the best interest of the
shareholders and provide invaluable counsel to the firm’s CEO.
As I’m the CEO of my
own life, I sit at the head of my boardroom table - or sofa, picnic table, or
park bench. So I wrote down the names of people in my life I admired for advice, mentoring, and influence.
My SBOD is a secret group, known only to me. In fact, none
of my Directors even knows that they’re on my Board since we never actually
meet. Members are not elected, have no term limits, and receive no compensation
or recognition for their services.
These 12 cherished adults of integrity, wisdom, and authenticity who help me stay spiritually healthy. I admire them because they consistently lead by EXAMPLE and motivate me to become a better person.
They come from diverse
backgrounds. There’s a secretary, a Pastor, a writer, a doctor, an engineer,
and several retirees. They are people that I trust implicitly and am not shy to
be vulnerable with. The Holy Spirit serves as my Board Chair.
Our faith journeys are fraught with anxiety, confusion, selfishness, and at times hypocrisy. The examples exhibited by my Directors help me stay focused on my identity as a beloved child of God rather than whatever other roles I might enumerate.
It's good to be
intentional about the handful of people you choose to most directly influence
your actions and your character. I often find myself asking “What would _
name _ do in this situation?” Watching how they live and interact with
others, helps me make decisions aligned with God's plan.
Many of us turn to
friends and small groups who pray for us when asked. I find it comforting to
have someone I can always turn to for prayer. My Directors are people with the
gift of intercessory prayer who make it their ministry to pray for others.
So why not give it a
try?
Go to your sacred
space and light a candle. With pen and paper begin writing down people you know
who bring focus, joy, and light into your life. Their living testimony will
help you become a better Christian, and encourage you to be the person God
created you to be.
