I have been doing a lot of thinking lately. Why are we the way we are? Why are we so territorial and why we are so easily offended? I thought that as a family, we are suppose to give each other the benefit of doubt?

If there is something Learn from my days in Hawai'i, it will be O'hana and outrigger canoing. I learn about the importance and the true meaning of what family should be like. I learn the importance of team-work in canoing the outrigger. Each and every paddler is an important component of making the outrigger move towards a certain destination.

We all have a part to play in this family of God. We are all paddling together towards the same destination, and that destination is to see the Glory of God in everything, everywhere and everyone. It does not matter where you are placed in the canoe, we are all equally important in the task of winning souls for Christ. However, a team that does not work together, will find it hard to steer the outrigger. We will spend much time time and energy paddling, but travel very little, or at best, in circles. Its called team decay.

A team that’s decaying consists a group of people who have lost their trust in one another. What’s a quick way to rotting relationships - seed mistrust into the heart of your team. This applies to any relationship whether it be in church, business or at home. The lack of trust burns quickly into lost of trust. Then communication goes sour. Why does communication go sour? There are many reasons aren’t there? But we know that broken communication adds to broken trust, leading to broken relationships, leading to team decay.

Team Decay happens when:

* You feel like you aren’t being heard and you take offense. Hurt feelings lead to hurt relationships if not addressed.

* Someone has talked about you behind your back, you find out and you harbor ill feelings.

* You talk about a team member behind their back. When you say things to others about a person that you don’t have the courage to speak to them face to face. Ouch!

* You are silent about a discussion or decision when you should have at least shared your t thoughts or feelings. Now you respond with a silent, cold heart.

* When we undermine authority. Being a grumbler, discontent with your role, responsibility, lack of compensation (whether in pay or affirmation - we all like to be compensated with affirmation or a reward of some kind), when we don’t get our way, our idea was not considered or used, etc.

* When teams develop “cliques” among themselves. Internal competition arouses pride. Pride feeds self centeredness and opposes team unity.

* When co leaders or second or third tier leaders want to vie their way into “position” and can tend to develop different camps or cliques among the team.

* When territorial attitudes develop.

---