Kaizen

The word “kaizen” is a Japanese word that means continuous improvement. It refers to a business profile based on the idea that small continuous improvements can foster growth within a company with the cooperation and commitment of every employee. Unlike American businesses whose goals include "reaching the top" and "you have arrived", the premise of kaizen is that if you feel you have achieved all you can, you will stop striving to do better.

I thought about the word “kaizen” after discussing the Bible with my son. He asked how people can read the same passage and come away with different interpretations of what they read. I explained to him that we are all in a different place on our spiritual journey and tried to explain the role of the Holy Spirit. The discussion turned into a debate and was never finished. However, as a result of that discussion/debate, I was enlightened by the idea that my faith journey mirrors the principle of kaizen.

In my relationship with the Lord, I hope I never get to a point where I stop learning from Him, imitating Him, and following Him because I think I have arrived at the end of some imaginary self-imposed timeline. The journey will end when the Lord says it will on the day I am united with Him in heaven. Until then the Holy Spirit will guide me through this incredible journey whether I’m jumping for joy or stumbling through roadblocks with small continuous insights and improvements day by day and moment by moment.

“Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”

Proverbs 16:32