The Ups And “Downs” Of Collaboration

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and had no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
~Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

When I decided to make my dream of an annual women’s retreat a reality, I knew I couldn’t do it alone. So I prayed for friends who wanted to help . . . and waited.

Lo and behold, one day I took a mental inventory of the women in my life and discovered God had answered my prayer. One would make an awesome administrator. Another was the queen of hospitality. One already led worship for her church. And so on.

As I prayerfully (and I do mean prayer-fully) asked my friends to join me, they enthusiastically embraced my dream and together we made Winsome happen.

Collaborating with these women was one of the best and hardest decisions I’ve ever made.

Here are a few reasons why:

While we’ve yet to need each other for bodily warmth, my team and I have had plenty of opportunities to pick one another up after a fall.  Our four years of working together have provided many ups and downs for all of us both as a team and as individuals. We’ve had each other’s backs through it all.

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Proximity leads to conflict.

But as a committed member (not to mention the leader) of our team, I had to stay.

Early on, I told the team we needed to put on our steel-toed boots because we were going to step on each other’s toes. Working so closely, it was just a matter of time.

Our team has had to handle the inevitable conflicts of collaboration with grace and maturity. There have been hurt feelings, frustrations, and hard conversations.

We’ve also learned to appreciate each other’s perspectives and strengths and bear patiently with one another’s faults.

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Collaboration knits hearts. Even though life circumstances have changed and some of us may not have as much connection as we used to, our shared experience has given us treasured memories that keep us connected.

I’m reminded of Paul’s comparison of believers to a body, the Body of Christ!

For just as the body is one and has many members,
and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. . .
But as it is, God arranged the members of the body,
each one of them,
as he chose.
~1 Corinthians 12:12; 18

It’s not coincidence that these women are in my life. Together we are creating an event to encourage other women in their dreams and relationship with Christ and His body. Every part of our team is vital just like every member of the body. God, in His wisdom and love, has brought us together.

That is no small thing.

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As a mom, there are few things that thrill me like seeing my kids work together. I’ve exclaimed this verse to them on many such occasions: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity. ~Psalm 133:1

When we collaborate for the advancement of His kingdom, I imagine our Father is thrilled as well! 

 

With so much gratitude to the Winsome Leadership Team: Clare, Emily, Hilary, Debbie, Julie, Missy, René, Stephanie, Tee, and Wendy.

Shared by: Kim Hyland