When we look into the Hebrew bible, we find a specific set of values that were clear for this specific Israeli community–from the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai to the proverbs, the bold teachings of the prophets and Jesus’ words of right living at his “Sermon on the Mount,” and everything in between. Yahweh’s disdain for compromise was very evident. He knew and – in the Jewish and Christian traditions –  still knows we are all too human. Given this knowledge, Yahweh and the divine sources of guidance in many other spiritual traditions have provided clear guidance–and boundless grace and forgiveness for those times of failure.

However, that gift does not mean we ignore the fundamental values to which we have made a community. Scriptures in many spiritual traditions tell us that we are known by our fruit. That means the world sees something different in us. It does not (should not!) see the same abandonment of values for personal satisfaction. As Sandstrom and Smith (2005) note: our fruit is the visible evidence of a life based on a set of shared values. It defines everything we are, and all that we do. We are known and honored by what we do, not just what we say, proclaim or expect of other people. It is about “walking the talk.” It is about finding “fierce resolve” in meeting our moral obligations as spiritually oriented leaders.

Covenant marriages exemplify this fierce resolve. When two people decide to make a covenant commitment to one another, they are pledging faithful loyalty to one another on behalf of a greater good—often the prospect of having children and raising a family. The covenant marriage also comes with substantial support. Not only do the two members of the couple make a commitment to one another, their two families or origin also commitment to supporting the couple throughout their life together. It would seem that it takes a community (or at least two families) to “raise” a couple and a new family.

Establishing a Vision of the Future

An appreciative perspective (Bergquist and Mura, 2011) focuses on the way in which to “catch people doing it right.” This is an important, secular approach to appreciation. However, something more is added when we embrace a spiritual perspective. Appreciation can refer to the establishment of a positive image of the future within an organization or community. We grow to appreciate this social system by investing it with optimism. We imbue the organization or community with a sense of hope about its own future and the valuable role potentially it plays in our society. “Organization-wide affirmation of the positive future is the single most important act that a system can engage in if its real aim is to bring to fruition a new and better future.” (Cooperrider, 1990, p. 119) Effective leaders, therefore, must be “not only concerned with what is but also with what might be.” (Frost and Egri, 1990, p. 305)

We come to appreciate our own role and that of other people in the organization or community with regard to the contributions we make jointly in helping the organization or community realize these images, purposes and values. An appreciative perspective is always leaning into the future. While we appreciate that which has been successful in the past, we don’t dwell with nostalgia on the past, but instead continually trace out the implications of acquired wisdom and past successes regarding our vision of the future.