Friday, February 8, 2013

Living with questions

What questions do we live with?  One question that I've been walking around with is, "What's my constraint?"  It's a very good question, especially if you put any stock at all in Constraint Theory, but it begs a larger question.  I'll share what I mean in a moment, but first a brief primer on TOC or Theory of Constraints.  This theory says that in any endeavor or organization or purpose, there is always one particular item, process or issue that constrains the output, throughput or capacity of the entire organization.  There is always a funnel somewhere.  So, to increase your capacity or maximize your productivity, or enhance your efficiency, it's essential to discover where your constraint is and do everything you can to unblock this funnel.  It's the only work that will make a difference, as long as this is truly the constraint.  So, back to "What's my constraint?"

Can you now see what's missing from this question?  In order for there to be a constraint, there must be a purpose or a goal.  This reminds me of the scene in Alice in Wonderland where Alice asks the Cheshire cat, "Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here.  That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the cat.  "I don't much care where," said Alice.  "Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the cat.  So my walk around question really needs to be modified somewhat.  I have to add in at least some goal or purpose.  For instance, I could say "What's my constraint in being a better listener?"  Then, I could start to analyze the various factors that block my active listening and paying close attention.  I could try to discover if the main funnel is the time spent, a wandering mind, a lack of interest, or something else.  Once I find the blockage, it behooves me to do everything possible to break it up and open the funnel wider.  Only then will I be able to be a better listener.  As an interesting side note - once the constraint is eliminated, another one will develop.  It's just the nature of the theory.  Like Roseanne Roseannadanna on Saturday Night Live would say,  "It just goes to show you. It's always something. If it's not one thing, it's another."

So, my real deep burning question and life purpose is this, "What's my constraint in loving God and loving other people?"  The more I study God's word and boil it down for my simple brain, the more I realize that this is the golden nugget.  Even Jesus reminded folks that all the law and the prophets hung on just two commandments - Love God and Love People.  That's all we're called to do.  If we get this right, everything else will be just fine.  So..... "What is my constraint in loving God and loving other people?"

Am I hard wired or soft wired to serve mainly me?  In other words, is it reversible or not - my predisposition to serve myself?  Certainly I am at least soft wired somehow to grab what I can, but can faith, worship, prayer, and God's word and God's Holy Spirit, revive me?

Maybe, my constraint is my laziness in NOT asking myself at each juncture in the day, "How can I love God and love others in what I am doing or in what I'm about to do?"  By using whatever means possible to ask this question numerous times a day, it may open up the funnel for greater love of both God and others.  I think I'll give it a try and see how it works.