Everything in me used to scream for relief every time I found myself in the middle of a long meeting. Even some of the meetings I was responsible for leading.

“I don’t have time for this meeting. Let’s get back to work! The real work!”

Until one day, 2 hours into an important strategy meeting, the reality hit me:
This is my work. Leading meetings isn’t something I do to get to the actual work. It’s a substantial part of the work itself. Since my job deals largely in the realm of ideas, concepts, and vision, my labor often seems abstract. We have discussions that seem to go around and around. And around.

Some of this can be/should be remedied by more effective moderation and clear prep-work. So I don’t want to run long pointless meetings then blame it on God.

But the most impactful decisions and directions in the history of our church were born or defined in meetings. And often, it seemed like the conversation was going nowhere. Until-

BAM. BREAKTHROUGH.

Stop resenting the hard work of substantial meetings. Shorter meetings aren’t better. Longer meetings aren’t better. Better meetings are better.

Now, get back to work.