The Next Guy

I don't know what made me think of this yesterday, other than the fact that once again, it came moments after acknowledging to God I had nothing for this post. But for whatever reason, I recalled in my mind, a scene from my favorite political drama television show.

The Chief of Staff is contemplating to handle resolving a situation before it escalate and the matter happens to arise while he is meeting with his lawyer regarding another challenge. In discussing how he plans to handle this negotiation before it becomes a real thing, he lawyer offers a different perspective and in support of her argument, uses the following phrase.

"Do it for the next guy."

In other words, consider tomorrows impact for today's actions.

All too often, in this highly driven, production-oriented, "get done as much and as fast as you possibly can" era, not only do what not always consider the impact it will make on one of many tomorrows, we fail to leave something "for the next guy" to work with and take our accomplishment to the next level.

We have all seen it happen, when there is transition.

There's the story of a task, job or project being performed at a certain level and brought to a certain stage and the "next guy" who is given or takes responsibility looks at it and has a "seriously?" moment. Something is wrong, something is amiss, something got missed... and the person who came behind is left spending considerable time in "correction" mode; having to fix things, that had they been done differently or altogether right, there would not have been a problem.

Meanwhile, had we had a more long-term outlook; had we been advised by someone who was considering the impact on tomorrow from decisions made today, I imagine things would look very different. They would have started looking different a long time ago.

What are we leaving for "the next guy"?
What are we handling well, that the next generation will be prepared to take to the next level?
What are we mishandling, that whoever comes along, will have to fix, correct and repair?
How are we considering the impact on tomorrow and allowing that perspective to influence today's decisions?

Pray, this #youthPastorWednesday, for pastors in the places of challenge and difficulty. May God grant to them wisdom and discernment in their decision-making. May their be a resolve to "do right" by the next guy. Pray the mind of Christ, to consider the impact of our decisions with an eternal perspective. May there be a passion to leave greatness in the hands of the next generation; having taught them stewardship and responsibility to handle it well; rather than leaving them a mess and no skills whereby they would able to clean it up.

Legacy.
For the glory of God.
For the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC