Principled Crisis Management

There is a lot of crisis management happening. Hospitals. Governmental agencies. Businesses. Congregations. Families.

Over the last thirty days all of us have made countless decisions, countless adjustments, countless changes. Where will we go? Where we will not go? What will we do? What will we not do? Cover? Gather? Withdraw? Test?

Something is becoming clear in my decision making. More than ever I must review my guiding principles for life. Now is the time for principled action, not just action. In the midst of a fast and furious decision making environment the worst thing I could do is jettison principles.

One “life principle” I seek never to employ: the end justifies the means. Especially now I seek to avoid that even if it hampers my response or puts me out of step with others.

These are bad times. They may be very bad times. But this in no time to turn against who we are and the principles that make us… us. Here are some principles I seek to maintain,

• I will trust in God’s love and power above that of the government or money.
• I will be directed by truth not emotions.
• I will work to sort out facts from fiction.
• I will not follow the crowd or jump on a bandwagon– even if I like the music.
• I will love my neighbor.
• I will be prayerful.
• I will be joyful.

What has struck me as significant this week is the importance of not giving up who I am in Christ just because the waves have kicked up around me. I must maintain principled crisis management.

What has struck you as significant this week?