Yep, it’s a funny meme that’s been around for a while.
My friend Don sent it to me and I laughed out loud.
And then I got sad.
I don’t know if it was Photoshopped or not, but I certainly could believe it. There was a corner store in our old neighborhood that advertised with big letters along the roof line: “Beer…Greeting Cards…Ammo”. No kidding. Because who knows when you might need to stock up your AR-15 while looking for a Mother’s Day card.
My friends in Europe would nervously laugh even more…because to them it would reinforce a certain view of America…and what Americans value.
But that’s not my point.
Aisle signs have a simple job: articulate what items can be located in said aisle. And the most important ones. For those of us who don’t regularly shop in American hypermarkets, the signs are critical. Otherwise, you’ll step over skeletons that never found the peanut butter.
The signs are declaring what is most valued in that aisle.
In churches—or any organization for that matter—we advertise our values in lots of different ways. We can communicate our values by what we choose to talk about the most and what we measure. For instance, if I was pastoring and announced that our church existed to love God and others, but the first metric I asked the staff for on Mondays was our offering count, it’s clear they will assume that what I really value is our financial security. And while that may be an important indicator of healthy discipleship, it’s up to the leader to communicate and express the strongest values in the organization…and if it’s not people, you’re in the wrong business.
So here’s my wonderment: What do you advertise in your aisles? What would a person attending your church for three weeks in a row immediately recognize as important? What would your volunteers and staff say are your most important values?
It might be time to take a second look at your aisle signs. Personally…and organizationally.
Dave Workman | The Elemental Group
Every healthy organization is marked by four essential traits: Integrity, Passion, Servanthood, and Imagination. With a practitioner perspective, author Dave Workman offers common sense guidance and tools to maximize leadership. Filled with insight, humor, and reflective exercises, this is an indispensable exploration of these four universal values. Check out Elemental Leaders: Four Essentials Every Leader Needs...and Every Church Must Have.
Comments