A TURNING POINT is a “critical point, [a] point of crisis” and a “point at which something changes direction” (Dictionary.com unabridged). The turning points of our lives are moments when a major shift takes place in the way we understand the world. Argyris and Schön (1996) refer to these moments as “double-loop” learning. They are moments when the underlying theories that make sense of and guide our actions are suddenly and profoundly challenged and we must step outside our normal circle of thought to incorporate a whole new perspective. I have experienced three major turning points in my life. The first was when I came to understand that Jesus Christ was for real and I committed my life to serve Him. That is the most profound and far-reaching double-loop learning that a person can experience. The second was when I left a rural ministry in eastern Ohio and took my wife and daughter to plant churches in Uruguay. I have often said that being thrust into another culture where a five-year-old can talk better than you is like dying and being born again. The third major shift for me was when I began my studies in organizational development and leadership. It was as though a missing piece to a long-incomplete puzzle had been found and the puzzle completed. I believe that many churches suffer today the pangs of unfulfilled dreams because they lack some of the rich insights that are available in the literature and research of organizational development, organizational learning, and strategic leadership. At the same time, I also believe that this research and practice is hampered by a lack of a biblical understanding of the spiritual dimension of people. This blog is dedicated to exploring the interaction between these two domains: the domain of organizational theory and the domain of theology.
Argyris, C. & Schön, D. A. (1978). Organizational learning: A theory of action perspective. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
turning point. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved September 29, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/turning point