In the midst of one of our daily sleep challenges (what happens in training camp stays in training camp), emerged 8 teammates raised to be team leaders for our squad. As teams were being announced is when the inevitable struck me; I was not chosen.
To backdrop the story a bit, throughout my life (school, sports, work, church) I have always been raised into leadership positions. I'm accustomed to being the person to lead others. I'm always eager for the challenges and responsibility that comes with being a leader. Unknowingly, I have developed an expectation of being a leader in everything I do. The World Race wasn't any different.
I was pretty bitter in the moment(to be honest). Not like bitter beer face guy :
Bitter in the sense of who am I if I'm not a leader and why wasn't I chosen.
That evening I was able to find some alone time in the midst of 180 ppl and had some one-on-one time with my heavenly Dad. Here is the how the conversation went:
Me: So why wasn't I picked to be team leader?
Dad: I need you to lead from behind.
Me: But I am not a team leader.
Dad: Why do you want the title of team leader so much?
Me: (swallowing hard) I guess the recognition and the authority have something to do with it. But If I dont have the title, then what is my title?
Dad: You are my son. That is your title.
The conversation ended with that. For so long I sought for what the world wanted in the leadership title without knowing it. Dad has a funny way of revealing these kinds of truth in my life. He later ministered to me what my position looked like to lead from behind.
Consider Joseph, son of Israel, who was sold into slavery by his brothers. Joseph was never the top leader in any capacity he was in during his time in Egypt. Instead his focus was to be a leader from the role he was in. Joseph was sold to Potipher and became his top servant. Joseph was wrongfully imprisoned and became the jailer's top servant. Joseph was freed and brought into the palace of the pharoah and became his most trusted advisor.
Joseph's heart was to honor God in every postion he was in. While honoring God in each position, the Lord showed Joseph favor in the eyes of his leaders and raised him up! Joseph was not focused on his title, but on the things of his heavenly Dad!
Consider Jesus, God in flesh. He was given the title Lord, teacher, healer, king, savior, lamb of God, and many more. However Jesus did not associate himself with those names. The only name He sought after was to be The Son. He found his identity as the Son. The world had many titles for Him, but in his heart He was the Son.
For so long I sought after titles to bring my identity and my role. I'm pretty tired of that. The world does not dictate who I am based off of what I am titled. I am a Son of God! Anything else is temporary!
My commitment to Luke (my team leader), Raised to Life (my team), and G Squad (AAAAoooohhh!) is to support you guys, pray for you all, love you all, and sacrifice myself for you all. I no longer want to be identified by the title or position I am in. I solely want to identified with my Dad Jesus 🙂
