A Reflection On Leadership

I can only be your leader if you allow me to influence your life. In my few years in church, I have worked with and observed many leaders. So many have come and gone. I've learnt that at the end of the day, it's really not about the 'L' behind your appointment. I will not consider myself your leader if I have been appointed whatever 'L' over you but have not gained the permission to speak into your life. CL, UL, SDL, DL, RL, GL, DHL, who cares? Rather, it's about the influence you have over another person that is important. How you gain that influence is a different story. If however, you decide to step up to the challenge to lead another person, you would have to do whatever it takes to win that influence, that open door to another person's life for you to enter. Sometimes, we can lose that ticket. In such circumstances, we have to ask for grace and patience with our weaknesses from our followers and start to work at it. It will take time, but in this time whether the door is still open or not depends equally on the leader as well as the follower. At the end of the day, a shepherd should always remember that influence is merely a vehicle to lead people to God and that it requires a selfless love for people to keep giving. Unless a kernal of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remain only a single seed. I honour all you who have been giving of yourself faithfully to people, many times denying your own rights, your right to be loved, your right to be heard, your right to be understood, so that someone else can be loved, heard and understood. He who never sleeps nor slumbers is not blind and will not forget all you have willingly and lovingly given.