EXCAVATION
Unearthing our story of place is foundational in the work of formation. It is the work of excavation. Excavation uncovers what is under the surface. It exposes what’s hidden in the humus. A foundation is rarely noticed and often goes unseen. But, the stability of a leader is based on their foundational work of excavation. Excavating the stories of both where we are from and where we lead.
The Cambridge dictionary definition of excavate: to remove earth that is covering objects buried in the ground in order to discover things about the past. There are violent and destructive ways to excavate. But, there are also careful and constructive ways to excavate. The difference in how we excavate is what we believe lies underneath.
If our aim is to strip away the past as quickly as possible we often do so violently. We move through the earth callously if we believe nothing of value will be uncovered. There is no curiosity. There is no care. There are only surface conclusions. There is an unwillingness to learn from the past and places that have formed you and the world around you.
If we believe something of value is below the surface, we begin to remove earth expectantly and patiently. We approach strata and story with curiosity and care. There is a willingness to listen and wisdom in learning from our own history. Under the surface lies artifacts of where we are from. There is holiness hidden in the soil of all of our stories.
The practice of unearthing our story, and the story of the place we live and lead, is never completed. “In one sense the past is dead and gone, but in another sense, it is of course not done with at all or at least not done with us.” wrote Frederick Buechner. “Every person we have ever known, every place we have ever seen, everything that has ever happened to us—it all lives and breathes deep in us somewhere whether we like it or not, and sometimes it doesn’t take much to bring it to the surface in bits and pieces.”
Excavation is the important, intentional, and ongoing work of unearthing and remembering. There are golden veins hidden among our stories we may not discover for decades. Humility, curiosity, and sincerity are the excavation tools to care best for our past.
Living and leading well always requires getting your hands dirty. The dirt we must work is the soil of our own story. If we are unable to do the work of courageously uncovering our past, it’s unlikely we will have the courage and clarity to step into our future. Those who do not study history, including their own history, are likely to repeat it.
Excavate your life. Uncover the hidden and holy places in your past. The work will prepare you to get your hands dirty with the land you find yourself now living and leading in. There are lessons to be learned from the landscape. Excavate believing your past is a sacred place.