echurch

written by Dries Lombaard

More often than not, when part of a planning initiative, project start-up, or new venture, the following words are uttered: “Let’s just not reinvent the wheel.” And then everybody nods slowly to affirm this very deep wisdom.

I also found that the moment those words are spoken, it’s like blowing out the candle of creativity and initiative. Hhmm…

I’m not at all sure that this statement is a sign of wisdom… at all. I mean, why on earth would anybody who is in anyway informed want to reinvent something that already exists? Someone who reinvents anything, is simply doing so out of ignorance.

We need to distinguish between the necessity of new inventions, and the absolute necessity of new designs. Any creative mind will always strive to keep on redesigning. And we absolutely need to do so. It’s being well informed, that leads to new designs. The more you know, the more you know what’s needed.

We can’t reinvent leadership, but we constantly need to redesign it.
New day, new leader.
We can’t reinvent parenting, but we constantly need to redesign it.
New day, new parent.
We can’t reinvent humanity, but we constantly need to redesign it.
New day. New world.
We can’t reinvent ourselves, but we constantly need to redesign ourselves.
New day. New me.

We can’t reinvent the gospel of shalom (wholeness).
But I’m absolutely convinced that we need to constantly redesign it.

New day. New hope.

[So, before you ask the "reinvention-question" ever again, first make sure you are part of a group of inventors... and not designers.]