Superstructure, Structure and Substructure

from the Ps Edmund Chan's book - MENTORING PARADIGM-1

In life, we gravitate toward the visible and the spectacular. We judge and pride ourselves upon our influence and accomplishments. That is what we call Superstructure that is easily visible.

It is the Substructure, the unseen foundation, that our true strength lies. Without a deep and stalwart substructure, the Structures cannot hold. And the superstructures cannot rise to great heights without peril. Thus is it important to spend time to build on the foundation of substructure than on the superstructure.

So what exactly is Superstructure, Structure and Substructure?

Superstructure - represents the outward accomplishments of our life, work and ministry. It is built by competence and skill. It is worthly only when the substructure is solid and the surface structures are set in place.

Structure - the supporting beams and columns which fit together to form the framework around which the facade and usable floor area are built. These structures are the areas that we need to guard in our personal life. Time with God, family, friends and community. Without these, the building would be haphzard jumble and shaky.

Substructure - Who we are, what we do when no one sees, form the substructures of our life. A life of worship, lived before God in the fear of Him and held together by humility, wisdom and perseverance, constitutes a foundation that will withstand immense stress and strain. The continued maintenance and growth of this substructure, firmly anchored in God through the practice of the spiritual disciplines, is the work of a lifetime.

Summary - When we take care of the depth of our lives, God will take care of the breadth of our work and ministry.

Food for thought - Where is our time spent? Substructure, Structure or Superstructure? Personally I felt most of us spent alot of time in Superstructure and neglect the Structure and Substructure. Same goes in church, we may focus alot of time in DOING various ministries and neglect in building the BEING, which is the depth of our character. I remembered sharing with a friend, "Do not judge based on the outward form of management or skills of a leader or the number of people in their group, It is when one goes through a crisis then the true depth of a leader surfaces. Of course, God is a gracious God, it is also through a time of shake-up in a crisis that a leader grows in depth to build the Substructure."

As a reminder to myself as a leader to many ladies - do not neglect mentoring the substructure in their life as I built substructure in my life too!