Infinite Games and Elam Endings

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

-Matthew 18:1-5

I've mentioned before how my kids intuitively know how to extend games/play/fun. From circular plots and unexpected twists during imaginative play, to double and triple and quadruple overtimes in sports and games, to asking for one more show, book, anything prior to going to bed, all three of my children have a knack for keeping things going.

In a sense, when the play ends, so does the fun. Therefore, do all that you can to keep the game going.

And, when the fun starts to wane, make a twist in order to make things more engaging. Tweak the game/play/creativity slightly to keep the fun from ending and/or make it even better. 

This is the essence of Simon Sinek's text, The Infinite Game, and how successful organizations look beyond specific metrics and focus on goals that can never really be accomplished. For example, instead of solely basing success on a dollar amount or test score, organizations that play infinite games strive to do things like change the lives of customers or bring students to fullness of life. 

This doesn't mean that you don't use metrics or gather data to gauge performance. For example, you wouldn't disregard enrollment numbers or fundraising dollars raised. You would purposefully analyze figures like this and monitor them closely throughout admissions or fundraising seasons and over the course of time. You construct data and read the story that it tells. Low enrollment might signal some blockages in the admissions pipeline. It might also provide a more serious diagnosis that the school's overall health is declining. Similarly, analyzing a less than noteworthy fundraising effort could reveal gaps in its execution. Or, it could signal larger organizational decline, dysfunction, dissent.

To play an infinite game, organizations should:

1. Have a clear sense of its mission
2. Purposefully gather and construct data to measure mission effectiveness 
3. Analyze this data in light of the organization's mission
4. Use this data-analysis to inform ongoing strategies to advance the mission

Note a common thread in the steps outlined above: the mission. 

Also note that the steps above should be cyclical and that missions need to be advanced not accomplished. 

Extend the play. Keep the fun going. Continue to move the mission forward. 

To do so, Elam Endings may prove helpful. A concept employed during the NBA All-Star games to encourage competitive play, the idea is that at some point close to the end of the game - in the case of the NBA All-Star Game it is at the start of the 4th quarter - the clock is turned off and both teams play until an agreed upon score. 

So, at the end of the 3rd quarter, let's say the score is West=75, East=95. Instead of just playing for a certain amount of time, the clock would be stopped and a target score would be named, maybe 125 points. In this way, there could theoretically be enough time for the West to come storming back and an open-ended amount of time for them to do so. They would need to score 50 points before the East netted 30 and time would no longer be against them. 

Elam Endings also prevent teams from stalling at the end of a contest. You haven't won until you've hit the goal. 

Until then, keep playing. Keep the fun going. Continue to advance the mission. 

So, infinite games might require a number of Elam Endings, maybe even an infinite number of them. Keep your mission clear and at the forefront of your efforts. Collect and construct data to measure mission-effectiveness. Analyze this data in light of the mission. Use this analysis to continue to move the mission forward. 

Little kids do this intuitively and masterfully. 

Maybe it's time to return to that child-like spirit and find a way to play - not win - some infinite games. 

Duc in altum

 “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”

-Luke 5:4

Duc in altum. 

This is Latin for put out into the deep. 

Jesus calls all of us away from the comforts of the shore out into the deep. Not only does He commission us to set sail, He also commands that we lower our nets for a catch. For Peter, this request seemed absurd. An experienced fisherman, Peter had spent all night in vain; they had caught nothing. 

Obediently, though, Peter sets out and lowers his nets, "...but at your command, I will..." (Luke 5:5).  

I often wonder about the level of skepticism that accompanied Peter's actions. This will never work. I can't wait to prove him wrong. Perhaps Peter also rolled his eyes, scoffed, and/or shook his head. Maybe he spoke thoughts similar to the ones I've projected above under his breath or to his companions.  

Whatever.

The English teacher in me sees the conjunction "but" in Peter's response and suspects hesitation. He even qualifies his potential reluctance based upon recent experience. I just tried this. 

But, Peter does it anyway. He follows Christ's commands. 

And, "(w)hen they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing" (Luke 5:6). 

Christ just needs our yes. He needs our fiat. Even on those days when we don't feel like it, when we aren't sure that it will work, when we are spent and discouraged and hopeless and mad and hurt and lonely and we want to give up. 

Say, "But at your command, I will."

This space, however small it may be, is all that Christ needs to breakthrough. 

This yes, however begrudgingly it may be given, can serve as the training ground for something even greater. Christ commands Peter at first to do something familiar - to put out into the deep and try to catch some fish - in a new way - with Christ in his boat. 

The response elicited astonishment: "For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him" (Luke 5:9). The response prompted community: "They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking" (Luke 5:7). The response inspired conversion: "When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, 'Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man'" (Luke 5:8)

The response opened the door to another, more important and greater command and encouragement: "Do not be afraid, from now on you will be catching (women and) men" (Luke 5:10). 

Perhaps Christ's command for you is to do the same things you've always done but in a new way - with Him in your boat and giving the directions. Maybe your yes, however reluctant, is a chance for you to be astonished by the abundance of His love and grace for you. Consider that Christ's participation in your life is a call to community and/or conversion.

It may be that Christ's invitation to you to put out into the deep is incredibly scary and hard. 

But, listen to the words of your Savior, "Do not be afraid" (Luke 5:10). 

Lower your nets. 

Follow Him. 

Duc in altum! 

The following spoken-word poem was inspired by leadership metaphors posed by 20th cohort of the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program during the summer of 2022:

Duc in altum. 

Put out into the deep. 

With Jesus in your boat, despite the storms raging about,

You will find calm, rest, silence, purpose. 

So, stand firm upon the solid rock of Christ. 

He has called you to this great work - pull your sword out of the stone and claim your royal lineage. 

You are made for greatness,

Built for holiness, 

And destined for sainthood. 

You. Are. Amazing. 

See yourself and the world through a new frame, focus your camera, put on your leadership glasses, wear out your Rosary beads, don your favorite bowtie - do what you need to prop yourself up to become who God created you to be. 

As Christ fuels your ministry, you will be a saving leaven for the world,

Causing hope to rise, 

Sparklers to ignite,

And musical productions to fill the air. 

So, drop some beats and invite everyone onto God’s great dance floor. 

Pour out libations in celebration and sacrifice,

Giving the gift of yourself to God and others. 

May your gift attract others - like a magnet pulling in, drawing close, connecting, gathering. 

And, like wildflowers may you scatter.

Go and breathe life into dead places and persons, bringing the Holy Spirit’s power to those most in need of God’s love. 

Go and proclaim the roar that God has implanted into your heart: Mighty, majestic, magnanimous. 

For mission. 

To the heights. Into the deep. 

For God. 

Let’s go.