The Hardest Thing You’ll Ever Do

I’ve said it long enough, “All things being equal, if we are headed the same direction, then I want to be in front.” If you are not the lead sled dog, then all the views are the same, so I heard it said some years back. But there’s something about being the “leader of the pack.” It’s not that I must be in front of others, but I’m very cognizant of my surroundings. I often feel this is a job made just for me. If anyone has to watch out for trouble, or potential problems, then being in front is my job! Due to changing or challenging conditions, I suspect that there are many reasons for me to be in the position to choose the best option. I’ve studied the maps, I understand the traffic flow, and if we get stuck somewhere, then it’s my fault. Not yours.

Probably the hardest thing to do is make decisions that will affect others.
Do it right, Hallelujah! Make a wrong choice, then, “oh me, oh my…”
The next hardest thing is admitting you are wrong.
When wrong, the next hardest thing will be to ask for forgiveness.

Whew! Leadership is suddenly the hardest thing I’ve ever seen done rightly!

Equally, being in front is often because others give you the privilege to lead. Not that they couldn’t do it themselves, but as with geese, supposedly, they change the leadership position often to give the wave breaker a bit of respite.

So. Be in front if you want to. Yearn for the right to make a choice. But be very aware of those who are throwing their lot in with you. You have a heavy responsibility.

Biblical Leadership

The Bible is full of leadership descriptions. We know not everyone is suited to leadership, and some require the role thrust upon them in trying times.

Moses listened to God, challenged a Pharaoh, and then led Israel out of bondage! Amazing! But it took his father-in-law teaching him to spread his load of leadership outward. Get others involved, and when it’s time for you to be involved, they have handled the load of many tasks. You chose well.

And Moses’ father-in-law said to him,
The thing that you do is not good.
You will surely wear away, both you and this people that is with you.
For this thing is too heavy for you; you are not able to perform it alone.
(Exodus 18:17-18 MKJV)

Many leaders are caught in this trap. This has, perhaps, been my hardest task to accomplish. It’s my fault, and not anyone else’s. I did not choose the best option. Somewhere I’ve felt I could handle it all. By doing so, I take away Leadership growth from others and weigh myself down with mundane or easy-to-share tasks.

Listening and learning from others is difficult. There are times it shows your weakness or mistakes, but done right, accepting lessons from others will reveal your strength. This is crucial. Strength is not found in being undefeated. Rather, it’s knowing you don’t know everything.

Moses could have kept doing things his way and their future would stall. Listening to others, following their lead, helps you ease on down the road… (go ahead, put it to music, you want to!).

Here’s My Thought

Learning to lead is important. There are many areas of life it comes into play. Raising children, managing your home, even going to work on time each day. Life will be easier when we take instruction from someone who has a “better way.” Tweak it all you want, but make it yours. There! You’re a leader!

Jesus called his “followers” so he could “make” them fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19, etc.) They did so for 3.5 years, and then they were leaders themselves. There is a proving ground for becoming!