Daily Reflections on Jn. 21:18-19 (Confusion)

It's hard for me to watch my father's health decline. This once virulent man has been reduced to a frail and feeble state. His once contemplative mind is now filled with confusion. His curious and energetic spirit lays dormant within him. I often think about this passage when I reflect on his condition. The leader, pastor, thinker, innovator now has to be lead everywhere and instructed about virtually everything.

I pray for my mother frequently. She is his sole caregiver. He's become extremely dependent upon her. She guides him, directs him, encourages him, leads him throughout each day. He's very uncomfortable if she is not nearby. He trusts her implicitly. His only question, "Where are we going?" It's repeated many times in the course of even the smallest journey or outing.

That dependency has developed from nearly sixty years of marriage and ministry together. For Him, my mother is his life. Whatever, whenever, he follows her lead. If he needs something or feels uncomfortable he cries out for her. Their relationship empowers his confidence, security and well-being.

As sad as it is for me to watch this spectacle with overwhelming vulnerability, I've learned a little about faith and following Jesus. When you face incredibly difficult times, if you haven't developed an intimacy with God through Jesus Christ, you're totally lost. Learning to follow Jesus isn't always easy. But if we don't learn it, what is it going to be like in the real rough times?

For most of us, there will come a day when we'll cry out for someone to lead us. It's a frightening and confusing place to be. Knowing Jesus on a deep personal level will make a difference when we're there. That's why it's so important to develop the relationship, the trust, the dependence before we get there.

God, these past several months for me have been challenging. I've needed and still need you to take me by the arm and lead me step by step. I feel uneasy when I don't sense your presence or hear your voice. I'm placing trust completely in you. Lead me in your path. Take me the direction you want me to go. I'll gladly follow you.

Daily Reflections on Heb. 13:5-8, 20-21(Is There Anyone Worth Following?)

It seems more than at anytime in recent history, there is a leadership void. Corporations, politics, social organizations, and even churches/religious denominations. Daily we hear on the news of the latest executive/pastor going down in flames. Some because of scandals. Some because of mismanagement. Some over political fallout or some major faux pas. The debate about the next US President has been going on for quite some time with no end in sight. But even among the top candidates there has yet to emerge a person who has captured the public and issued the call to follow them.

Why the void? Where'd all the leaders go? There's more stuff written about effective leadership right now and yet where are they? Perhaps the leadership void is actually a character void. Leader have to be conscious of the little things, the daily things. There has to be a selflessness and a consistency of purpose, a lifestyle that is above reproach and worth imitating.

Leaders don't focus on building their own careers, their own nest eggs, their own reputation, their own position. True leaders focus on a vision or call that they know is bigger than themselves. Everything, then, about their life is focused on accomplishing or achieving that calling.

When God calls you or places His vision in you, there is nothing more important and probably more challenging. But with that calling comes the equipping and the empowerment. God gives us everything necessary. But the choice to do the work and use God's resources are up to us.

Spiritual leadership demands a lifestyle that is pleasing to God. No one is perfect. Even God doesn't expect that. That's why He gave us His Holy Spirit. No pressure spiritual leaders, but people around you are supposed to imitate your life. Okay, that's a little scary.

But that doesn't excuse the rest of us. God instructs us to seek out Godly leaders who proclaim God's Word and model Godly character. And then we're to pursue that in our lives. Leader or no leader, God still says to pursue our individual calling and be willing to use our gifts and talents and resources to do His will.

God, help me to be a model to others of a life lived for you!