Window-washing Worship Weekend.
Try saying that 5 times.
Really fast.
Ready, set, go!
Tongue-twister, huh? 🙂
We usually have our weekly house meetings first thing Sunday mornings, followed by worship and church. But this week, because the big move is fast approaching and the windows in the new house needed washing…all 51 of them by Monday morning… Stan and Cindy had the perfect solution:
What a great idea! Window-washing as a way to connect with each other, and worship the One who has done, and is doing, great things through His unbridled acts of loving- kindness, provision, and grace in Elizabeth.
Those who had prior commitments did their part by helping gather supplies, then getting up at the crack of dawn to do whatever prep work could be done beforehand. It was a team effort, for sure, that could not have been completed on time without each person’s contribution. And here’s a little of what we learned in the process:
- Process doesn’t always look, or feel, like progress, especially at the beginning of the task.
- Letting others help you when your attention to detail and commitment to excellence border on perfectionism is scary, but freeing.
- Choosing connection over perfectionism is risky, but worth it.
- At the end of the day, connection over what we like to call “perfect” feels a lot better than “perfection” at the expense of the connection we’d really rather have.
- Having set ideas about “the right way” to do things can be a connection killer when no room is allowed for other ideas, preferences, and opinions.
- “There are a thousand ways to do things right.” (Thanks, Stan!)
- This is very helpful thinking for those of us who are more prone toward connection-killing fear of doing things “wrong” and disappointing people.
- Best strategies are usually developed through trial and error.
- Adopting (or at least considering) proven strategies that make the process more effective is both honoring to the person trying to help you… and beneficial for you.
- Clinging to our own ideas of what works best and refusing to consider any other possibilities… is not.
- Working in pairs allows one to follow the other with an eye for the finishing details and a successful result that both partners contribute to equally. And is way more fun!
- Keeping the goal in mind helps safeguard communication from becoming critical defensive or damaging to the desired outcome (whether that means clean windows, staying connected to people, or pursuing what really matters in life.)
- Paying attention to what a person values because of the person’s value to you is a great way to express honor and love for them.
- Clean windows change your view of things dramatically.
- Unless you clean both sides of the glass, you still have a dirty window and a cloudy view of things.
- Progress and results are much easier, quicker, and noticeable at the end of the process than the beginning.
- Working together with unity of goal and purpose is FUN!
- Working together to honor God and “see His Kingdom established on earth as it is in heaven by helping each other learn to see differently, live differently, and love differently” is WORSHIP!
So there ya have it… lessons learned from our “window-washing worship weekend.”   We hope they help clear the view from the windows of your heart and soul, like they do for us. And if you need a little window-washing, no worries. God knows the perfect strategy and process to help you see more clearly, connect more easily, and enjoy life with Him and others more fully. The process may feel risky and scary and hard at times, and you may not always see the progress you’re making, but you won’t have to do it alone, and the promise is that it will be worth it. And the new view will be amazing!
