Leadership Hinges on Humility

Maybe you missed me, probably you didn't. For a week, I have stopped all personal internet and social media interaction. Knowing that my pastor was going to call us to fast, and also knowing that I regularly struggle with low blood sugars, a food fast did not seem like a good idea.  I did ask God if that was what He wanted, because He could have been asking me to step out in faith and He could have kept my blood sugars in great shape, even if I didn't eat.  But, alas, as I sought what sacrifice would have a great impact on my life reminding me to pray and listen, a host of things were brought to mind.

First, I would give up personal internet and social media, and surprisingly? it was a big deal!  Secondly I would not listen to any music or radio while I drove around, spending that time praying as my Lord led.  Not so surprisingly, my week was filled with rich interaction with Him while MANY friends and family were topics of prayer for the week.

I couldn't fast from watching television because I only watch maybe a total of 2 hours a week.  I have grown accustom to, and enjoy the quietness of my house and contemplation while I go about my duties at home.  I rarely 'veg' in front of the plasma but do spend a lot of time reading and exploring on the internet.  I did check my emails, and only responded to and read that which was 'required'. I had to use the internet at work, but while off, no jumping to Amazon to check out a new book or to a kite website to explore new ways to make one.  No practicing my software driven radio controlled airplanes (before I get the real thing).

So what did I do?

While preparing for the fast, I inquired of my Maker for input, and input He gave me.  While working on a computer at church ( I do I.T. there) a stack of books were sitting on the shelf next to me.   "The Power of a Praying Husband" by Stormie Omartian, seemed benignly interesting, especially since, for the past 5 years I asked God to help me become a man of prayer.   I grabbed me a copy off the shelf.  Secondly, another book,  "The Making of a Leader" by J. Robert Clinton has been assigned me to read and report on as part of my ministerial training.  The latter encouraged my soul confirming that I am on the path of a leader, the former called me up short as my personal prayer time for my beloved was significantly shorter than my prayers to save the world and come alongside my friends.

In one amazing week, God showed me that in order to become a great leader, my greatest asset, and most important partner is Carrie.  He also pointed out that my beseeching Him on her behalf to become the most honorable, beautiful woman of God she can be is paramount to the success of our part of His kingdom building.  Now before you even think that I find her needing lots of improvement, let me belay and douse any such thinking determinedly.  Carrie is extremely intelligent, amazingly personable, incredibly creative in craft and life, adventurous with a fun loving spirit, a gifted homemaker, warm and endearing, and most importantly, devoted to and living in faithful service of her Maker while lovingly holding me accountable.  I am who I have become because of who she is and has helped me become.  She is worthy of much praise and prayer from this privileged and indebted heart, and I am blessed to have her as my partner in life!

The making of a leader hinges on humility.  All great leaders are great followers.  Great followers come alongside great leaders and together strive for the illusive target of inspirational development and deployment of more great leaders.  Personal pride and glory must be disposed.  Deep and meaningful accountability are key elements as checks and balances for every leader.  When leaders share their struggles and sins together while holding one another accountable, working to move beyond them, protecting one another with prayer and humility, powerful things will be accomplished together.


 I believe effective leadership hinges on humility, consulting with God, developing trust with others called to lead, following and learning from other leaders.  I also believe that effective spiritual leadership arises from interaction with our Maker and from a life given in prayer and accountability with those He asks us to engage with in life. 

Who's on your team?  Do you surround yourself with those who WILL keep you in check?  Is integrity, honesty and excellence the backbone of your call and life?  How do you know?  What are you doing to insure you continue in integrity and honor?

Something Sabbath

Crazy busy is the life I choose to lead which made being 'unemployed' a struggle for many years.  Required 'back then' was patience and a new learning about 'waiting', while actively doing whatever came my way, and it always did.

These days (even after 10 months of employment at Lowe's) I find myself still a bit disoriented as I attempt acclimation to retail scheduling (something my fellow associates tell me will never happen).  For this aging mind, if it weren't for my 'smartphone', and Google calendar, I think I'd be more 'toast' than I already am.  My schedule at Lowe's drives my weekly life;  My job managing the facility at the preschool able to 'tuck' neatly around the biddings of Big Blue.  My work at the church?  Well some are flexible and some aren't and mostly, Big Blue has accommodated my requests.

Working three jobs, has escalated my scheduling life to a whole new level, and, as I pray, it seems God has already preconfirmed that His provision for me would be through a life of multiple employ.  He sends odd jobs, like working on friends computers, handyman repairs for friend's homes, as well as our own home (remodeling our guest bath) adding additional 'spice', to my weeks.  In the midst of this all, while attending the district conference for our church denomination, I was hit with an important issue pressed out of my life by the crazy business that encroached my days and weeks...

When is my day of rest???

I have a habit of filling holes in my schedule with other 'important' things to do, mostly for others and with Carrie.  But, I haven't considered my own, personal 'day of rest'...and, frankly?  It is the reason I find myself in a state of requiring 'quiet'.  My all to brief 'quiet times' in the morning scream at me for the need of more.  In the midst of all the flurry of life, I find myself being more reclusive and less engaged in the cacophony of the living going on around me, wanting to be by myself; something this guy rarely desires.

So what does it mean and what should I or did I do about this?

I am now taking sabbath.  Rest.  A whole day off.  A Sunday on a Monday or Friday or whatever day I have off.  I plan my work around, filling other days leaving one day 'free'.

Because I 'like' activity, I allow myself to do things I like to do by myself, alone, that I find relaxing, invigorating, enjoyable, personally enriching or refreshing.  It has become my day for me, and I am beginning to look forward to it.

What do I do?

I am learning to play the Cajon (a drum box) and practice on it for a while.  I may take my mountain bike out for a ride.  I have taken up stunt kite flying (and general kite flying as I used to love flying kites as a kid).  I am learning how to fly remote control airplanes (with some hardware and software I purchased so I don't wreck my soon purchase of a 'real' airplane). I pray and read.  And mostly take great amounts of time 'listening' in all these 'activities'. 

Is this my rest?

For those who know me?  For who I am?  I believe this to be my form of rest.  In the beginning, God rested on the seventh day, and Sabbath takes it's lead from this initial example of rest, and it is verified for us through a command from God Himself to us for Sabbath.  Clearly if God stopped doing all He does to hold the universe in motion or abstained from being God for a day, calamity would result. What I mean is that He is still working, but instead 'rested' from His God work of creating. 

My work?  Doing what I get 'paid' for.  So why can't 'my rest', be anything outside of 'my jobs'? And now?  A day of something I look forward to doing  something 'Bob' like(s); Something personally renewing and refreshing with and directed towards my creator.  Something Sabbath.

My rest?  As varied as my soul.  Engaging in what engages me.  More time in prayer.  More time in listening.  Doing things I don't consider work, that moves comfort into my soul, set apart for my creator.  For others, it may mean doing 'nothing' or sitting at the beach, and while I can do this, my soul finds rest in doing things; learning things and through exploration.



Something Sabbath for me is resting from doing something that 'drains me', to doing something that renews me, and it is God who renews me, daily, but more so in the one day I distinctly set aside for Him  .  What is that which does this for you?  And how do you make it a weekly 'day' of rest, renewal and drawing near to The One who created you?