No celebrating the gift of Christmas til you give thanks on Thanksgiving. That has been my rule as long as I can remember and I believe it is the right way to think about the holiday season.

Why then are our Christmas decorations already up this year? Because sometimes when beliefs and/or values come into conflict you have to be flexible in order to best meet your people’s needs.

Two of the Minimalist Manager’s values are humanity and freedom…but I also value hope and love.

Is it more important to hold to my rule or to let my people begin to experience Christmas? In this stressful pandemic themed year…it is time to celebrate Christmas.

Why? I care about my people (humanity) more than I care about holding to a rule and right now my people aren’t feeling as free, hopeful, or loved as I want them to feel.

As leaders in our homes and workplaces I believe we exist to serve our people. Accordingly, unless a rule is crucial to living out our personal or organizational purposes it can and should be broken when great needs arise.

Right now, there is great need for the celebration of love, hope, and freedom. So put up the tree and hang the stockings.

What rule do you need to break at work, home, or in your community in order meet your people’s needs?

Explicitly Christian Perspective

I believe Paul talked about the need to be flexible and adapt to the situation in the service of one’s calling/purpose in 1st Corinthians.

19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. 22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

1st Corinthians 9

Paul holds firm to his main calling/purpose…”to spread the Good News and share in its blessings”. He gives up his freedom to Christ, but remains flexible in how he serves the calling/purpose Christ has put on him. When context changes, Paul changes…but he never waivers in his main calling/purpose.

I believe we should be like Paul as people who – first and foremost – are called to live for Jesus. We must hold firm to the values and purposes that Christ calls us to, but we should not be stubborn about less important matters because in the end it is Jesus that matters…not us!

I am called to help people grow in Christlikeness. That is my purpose. Sometimes that means role modeling discipline like celebrating Thanksgiving before celebrating Christmas and other times that means breaking a rule to enable those I love to experience freedom, hope, and love during a very difficult time.

What rule do you need to break?

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