Successful Collaboration

On January 26, 2019, I(Live With Intention), hosted a workshop on Successful Collaboration. It was birthed from a quote my brother Bishop K.D. Johnson wrote for my Bible Study book. Anyone who attended can tell you the teachings he shared impacts every area of your life. There were so many people who testified that their understanding of collaboration wasn’t a workforce term but rather a life term…a way of living with intention.

I know collaboration is necessary in all areas and relationships and I want it to be successful! But can I tell you the week before my workshop God showed me another view? Collaboration can be successful even when it looks like our goals are delayed, revamped or failed. Here is what He showed me. I needed to make some edits in the Bible Study book before reprinting. I enlisted a book formatter using a very popular website. I felt a leading to go with her although there were over twenty editors who bid for the job. I did not know how this would work but as we collaborated, and I reached the deadline for her to complete the edits it did not happen. There were things she had overlooked or failed to correct. I was filled with disappointment, and yes, anger. In the midst of the emotions I felt a peace and I said to my husband “maybe the Lord is using the book to minister to her, I certainly hope so.” She had shared a part of her journey one day as we spoke by phone. She is a Christian, formerly Hindu. On the day of our conference call, she said she prayed, and believed the Lord allowed her to make the errors so she would have to go page by page. As she went through the book some of the things written spoke to the very situation she and her family are living through at this time. She told me she was weeping. She was sorry about the errors but could see how God was in it.

I did not get the books I needed for my workshop. I later realized collaboration had taken place; it was successful no matter how it appeared to me and inconvenienced me. Sure, I would have rejoiced over having copies of my books to sell and sign, but more importantly God allowed me to connect with someone miles away, a sister in the faith.

It sounds oxymoronic doesn’t it? Successful Collaboration can look faulty, and yet be successful.

Romans 8:28…all things work together