The Crucibles That Shape Us: Navigating the Defining Challenges of Leadership

by Gayle D. Beebe, David Brooks (Foreword by)

Overview

We often see setbacks and disasters as events that keep us from our best life. But they're really opportunities to grow in leadership.

The problem of suffering is a spiritual hurdle for many that disorients us and those we lead. Gayle D. Beebe tackles the existential crisis head-on, revealing that, although we are bewildered at first, these situations ultimately prepare us. Previously viewing these challenges as insurmountable, he has come to recognize them as essential passageways in our relationship with God.

Beebe identifies seven crucibles—powerful catalysts for transformation—that, when embraced, shape us on this profound journey. Each chapter of this book delves into one of the crucibles, which Beebe intimately understands and has personally faced. Amid the realities of life's suffering, use this illuminating guidebook and find how colossal setbacks become a bedrock for a better, richer faith.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781514008089
Publisher:	IVP
Publication date:	05/07/2024
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	152
Sales rank:	339,804
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Gayle D. Beebe (MBA and PhD, Claremont Graduate University) is president of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. He is also the author of The Shaping of an Effective Leader and is the coauthor of Longing for God with Richard J. Foster.

Gayle D. Beebe (MBA and PhD, Claremont Graduate University) is president of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. He is also the author of The Shaping of an Effective Leader and is the coauthor of Longing for God with Richard J. Foster.

Table of Contents

Foreword by David Brooks
Introduction: Lessons in Endurance
1. The Crucible of Missed Meaning
2. The Crucible of Enduring Challenge
3. The Crucible of Human Treachery
4. The Crucible of Awakened Moral Conscience
5. The Crucible of Social Conflict
6. The Crucible of Human Suffering
7. The Crucible of Personal Choice
Conclusion: Wisdom for the Journey
Acknowledgments
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Notes
Further Reading

Editorial Reviews

"Gayle is writing about crucibles here, those difficult life moments . . . that shatter our normal way of seeing. In these moments, because of some tragedy or some betrayal, the normal patterns of life do not pertain. Everything is confusing, in turmoil. The old models don't apply. One has to learn to re-see."

David Brooks

"The Crucibles That Shape Us combines extraordinarily wide multidisciplinary learning with intense leadership experience and profound interior reflection to guide any interested reader into a deeper and more fruitful life. The seven fiery trials Gayle Beebe describes, through which each of us shall inevitably pass, will surely either shape, scar, or sear us. There's only one person I know who could have written this book, but there are multitudes of us who need to read it."

John Ortberg

"Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'If you can't fly, then run. If you can't run, then walk. If you can't walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.' King acknowledges that crucible moments are inevitable—and often out of our control. But within our control is how we choose to respond. In The Crucibles That Shape Us, Gayle Beebe calls us to consider how we meet moments of hardship and disruption—what we learn of ourselves, how we might invite God in, and how to embrace triumph on the other side. May we answer the call and keep moving forward, as God gives us grace."

Marcus "Goodie" Goodloe

"This book is a bravely honest reflection of how leaders can intentionally shape their own crucible moments into a defining moral arc that, in turn, shapes their destiny. The stories and personal accounts told by Gayle Beebe are compelling and truth seeking, always tracking with scriptural principles. This book should be required reading for every faith leader navigating through crisis."

Charity Dean

"As a former faculty member and a present trustee at Westmont College, I have witnessed Gayle Beebe's outstanding leadership firsthand. He has skillfully led the college through good times as well as moments of crisis. In The Crucibles That Shape Us he draws on his extensive experience to share his profound wisdom about leadership in a way that will enhance his readers' leadership abilities. This book is a must-read for all who want to grow in their capacity to lead with effectiveness, skill, and compassion."

Tremper Longman III